KATHMANDU: The national conference of activists for gender equality has approved the Strategic Planning for 2015-2017.

According to the statement issued by the MenEngage Alliance Nepal (MEAN), the strategic plan focuses on awareness and advocating programmes in the sectors of media, education and public sphere.

In the initial phase, the plan will cover seven districts of the county from the central to the grassroots level.

This information was shared at the national conference of activists for gender equality organised here on Thursday by MEAN in collaboration with UN Women.

Addressing the conference, Chief Justice Kalyan Shrestha emphasised on the need for ending gender-based violence and discrimination through active participation of men and boys, as envisioned in the new Constitution.

"Gender-based violence is detrimental not only to women and girls, but also to the nation as a whole," Shrestha said.

Similarly, speaking at the conference, Ziad Sheikh, country representative of UN Women Nepal Office said that achieving gender equality remains a challenge to the world, adding that although many good initiatives have been taken to address inequality; the transformation has not been as expected.

He further opined that men and boys should sincerely adopt gender equality in their personal behaviour to help make it a real one in the society.

Likewise, on the occasion, Sharmila Karki, senior human rights activist and outgoing president of NGO Federation Nepal, said that the country lacks suitable laws for gender equality while the implementation of the existing laws is also contested.

Shanta Laxmi Shrestha, coordinator of the Human Rights Magna Meet 2015, called for inputs from all to make the 16-day drive against violence against women successful.

Participation of males alone would not suffice, but their meaningful involvement in the campaign is required, she added.

Gender expert Sharu Joshi, members of the Network Management Committee Tanka Panta, Mina Bista, Krishna Thapa, Bhakti Thapa also spoke at the programme chaired by Kapil Kafle, the coordinator of the network.

Around 100 delegates from 20 districts across Nepal have taken part in the conference.