Kathmandu, February 28

Global Women’s rights movement ‘SheDecides’ is marking its second anniversary by organising a flagship event here on March 1 and 2.

Organising a press meet here today, Malawian Tikhala Itaye, chairperson of ‘SheDecides’ movement shared that the movement would help everyone who believed that every girl and woman should decide for herself about what she did with her body free from judgment, stigma, coercion and harm.

‘SheDecides’ has rapidly evolved from a hashtag, to a one-day conference, into a global political movement driving change, fueled  by community action and young people at its heart. The event in Kathmandu also stands as a milestone moment when the ‘25×25’ will be revealed. ‘25×25’ brings together 25 young advocates from 25 different countries around the world.

Each advocate was born in 1994 and has stories to tell about the changes that have happened in the 25 years after the historic International Conference on Population and Development in Cairo; together they will deliver a vision of the changes they want to see for the next 25 years, by 2044.  Itaye said, “The last two years have been extraordinary. It is remarkable that in less than two years, SheDecides vision has touched people in every country of the world. With over 120,000 friends in 183 countries, we are a powerful movement that can make real change happen.”

“One of a reasons for organising the event in Nepal is that it is committed to bringing change in sexual and reproductive health rights of women,” said Sivananthi Thanenthiran, chairperson of Asia-Pacific Resource and Research Centre for Women. “We had lot to learn from the policy and efforts of Nepal. Nepal is very suitable country we found to head our campaign and aware women throughout the world,” she said.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Health and Population Upendra Yadav and Minister of Women, Children and Senior Citizen will also attend the programme.