KATHMANDU, JANUARY 17

The government has claimed it is taking different approaches to address the multiple forms of discrimination against women. These include empowerment of women through education, awareness, training for skill development and employment, preventive measures through effective implementation of anti-violence and anti-discriminatory laws, affirmative measures, and protection of victims.

According to Universal Periodic Review Report (3rd Cycle) of Nepal recently submitted by the Government of Nepal to the United Nations Human Rights Council, the objectives of President Women Upliftment Programme are empowerment of socially and economically marginalised women through development of skills, entrepreneurship, enterprises as well as market facilitation, elimination of the incidents of rape, sexual exploitation, trafficking in women and girls and all forms of gender-based violence through effective law enforcement.

“Under the programme, pregnant women facing maternity related complications in remote parts of the country are airlifted to enable them to avail medical facilities. This initiative has saved the lives of 110 women and their infants between December 2018 and June 2020,” it said.

As per the report, a Judicial Committee has been established in each Local Level, which settles disputes primarily through mediation and subsequently through adjudication.

The disputes it settles are related to complaints of not taking care of senior citizens, not providing education, food and clothes to minor children and matters concerning relations between husband and wife.

The government said in the report that the Indigenous Nationalities Commission Act, 2017 provided authority to the commission to receive complaints against persons or organisations that violate the rights of the indigenous community and to recommend to the concerned authority for investigation. Similarly, the Caste based Discrimination and Untouchability (Offence and Punishment) Act, 2011 authorises the police office, National Dalit Commission and local levels to receive complaints.

The report also stated that the constitution provided the right to employment to every citizen, with positive discrimination in favour of women in employment and social security.

Similarly, the Right to Employment Act, 2018 stipulates a provision of attaching priority to women, Dalits, the indigent, martyr’s families and families of persons who have suffered enforced disappearance while launching employment programmes.