ITAHARI: At a time when cases related to gender-based violence are on the rise in the country, the Department of Women and Children has organised a programme to reduce such cases, here today.

A one-day-programme related to reducing gender-based violence and discrimination was organised under the President Women Upliftment Programme for people's representatives of local-levels with an objective of making them aware and capable of alleviating such issues in the society.

The main objective of the programme is to impart knowledge among people's representatives and to launch public awareness programme to reduce gender-based violence and discrimination in villages.

Vice-Chairperson at Sunsari's District Coordination Committee, Krishna Kumari Bishwakarma, spoke of the need for one and all to fulfill their responsibilities to minimise the cases of violence. She argued that such cases are heinous crimes of violation of human rights irrespective of any gender facing the violence.

On the occasion, Itahari Sub-Metropolitan City's Chief Administrative Officer Chabi Rijal, Chief of the Department of Women and Children at Itahari Sub-Metropolitan City Nirjala Chudal, Deputy Mayor Sunita Dahal, Federation of Nepali Journalists Sunsari Chapter President Amar Khadka among others pointed out the need to end such cases of violence.

The programme — chaired by Itahari Sub-Metropolitan City's Deputy Mayor Laxmi Gautam — saw the participation of people's representatives from Duhabi, Ramdhuni and Baraha Kshettra Municipalities.

A movie titled 'Agni Dahan' would be shown at various places to create public awareness about non-existence of witches.