Lalitpur, July 30:

The millennium development goals (MDG) cannot be achieved within the given time frame of 10 years unless there is a fair representation of women in the decision-making level and unless the problems facing women are addressed, speakers at an interaction on ‘Millennium Development Goals and Women’s Empowerment’, which was organised in the Capital today, said. “Though the MDG have given an impression that they have prioritised gender equality, the International Women’s Movement labelled the MDG goal of achieving gender equality by 2015 as a minimalist agenda,” Dr Chandra Bhadra, a gender specialist, said. “The MDG have sidelined the commitments on women’s right and gender equality, made in Vienna Conference (1993), ICPD (1994), Social Summit (1995), Beijing Conference (1995), and Durban Racism Conference (2001),” Dr Bhadra further said.

“Unless more women make it to the decision-making level, the MDG cannot be achieved within the given time frame,” she said. “The Millennium Project Task Force 3 (MPTF) has been introduced to achieve gender equality,” she added. The MPTF, among others, aims to

provide quality family planning services to women, safe abortion and delivery services and invest in infrastructure to save the time of women and children, ensure women’s right to parental property, eliminate gender discrimination prevalent in the labour market, increase women’s representation in the decision-making level and address violence against women.

“Unless women’s issues are addressed, the MDG’s prime goal of alleviating poverty cannot be achieved,” Surya Kiran Gurung, an advocate, said, adding: “There is a need to amend 54 laws that discriminate against women.” Improvements should be made in the legal system to address violence against women and realise the millennium development goals , Gurung said

“The government should draft policies, make plans, and implement special programmes to achieve the MDG within the given time frame.” Tap Bahadur Magar, a justice, said the laws should be implemented and efforts should be made to bring change in societal attitudes.