International Conference on Gender Inclusiveness in NHRIs concludes

The International Conference on Gender Inclusiveness in National Human Rights Institutions concluded in Kathmandu on Thursday. At the end of the event a nine-point declaration was issued.

The three-day international conference on gender inclusion in National Human Rights Institutions was commence on Tuesday. The conference was inaugurated by Prime Minister K. P. Sharma Oli.       

More than 150 representatives from 19 countries of Asia and Pacific region have been participating in the conference inaugurated by Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli. The conference was organized by National Human Rights Commission.     

The Kathmandu Declaration calls on NHRIs, respective governments, UN agencies, private sectors, and the relevant stakeholders from the Asia Pacific region to respect, protect, and fulfil the human rights of all genders.

Attention of the stakeholders have been drawn been for ensuring pluralistic and equitable representation and meaningful participation of all genders within NHRIs at all levels of operations and functions, promote accountability for human rights violations, and ensure the integration of a gender transformative approach in all NHRIs’ mandated functions.

The declaration called on to promote gender justice by taking specific actions and allocating resources aimed at achieving gender equality and inclusion, including to accommodate the impact of climate change and or other current and evolving crises and reviewing domestic legislations to provide policy guidance from a gender perspective in compliance with international human rights standards.

Likewise, stakeholders have been urged to review domestic legislation to provide policy guidance from a gender perspective in compliance with international human rights standards.

The representatives of the NHRIs from 19 of the 26 countries, who are members of the Asia Pacific Forum, an association of human rights organisations from the Asia Pacific region, attended the three-day conference.

The event that kicked off on September 3 was only the second international conference of its kind to be held in the Asia Pacific region. Earlier it was held in Amman, the capital of Jordan. On the inaugural event, commission chairperson Top Bahadur Magar shared that the conference was organized with an objective of reducing inequalities prevailing in the world.     

He expressed the belief that conference would be successful in addressing the issues of gender inclusiveness more effectively as there are still many challenges though there are some improvements on this issue.     

Sharing that patriarchal mindset is gradually disappearing, Minister for Women, Children and Senior Citizens, Nawal Kishwor Sah Sudi, stressed that there is still much to be done.     

He further said it is now clear that there should not be gap between women and men.     

Similarly, Chairperson of National Women Commission, Kamala Parajuli, said though national and international laws are effective, there are still challenges in implementation.     

She expressed hope that the conference would focus its attention towards it. 

Through a video message, Chairperson of the General Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions, Mariam Abdullah Al Attiyah mentioned that women, children and people from marginalized community of the world have been facing discrimination.     

Chairperson Attiyah stressed that as the responsibility of human rights commission of every country is to reduce differences and discrimination, so much works should be done being committed towards human rights of citizens.     

Kyoko Yokosuka, Resident Representative, UNDP mentioned that only 15% of countries in the world are on track to achieve gender equality by 2030. At the current rate it will take 300 years to end child marriage, 286 years to close gaps in legal protection and remove discriminatory laws, and 140 years to achieve equal representation in leadership in the workplace. One in five young women are still married before the age of 18. The task before us is immense, but we also see progress and reasons for hope.

As an example, legislated gender quotas have shown their effectiveness to achieve gender equality in politics. Countries with quotas, such as Nepal, have 50% more representation of women than countries without quotas. Of course, the challenges do not stop there, and it is important to ensure that increased representation is translated into actual impact on law and policy-making.

Nepal is rightly known for its progressive constitution, where the principles of inclusion and gender equality are very prominent. These principles are also reflected in major policies and plans of the Government, including the 16th development plan.

Likewise, NHRC member Lily Thapa shared that there is still gender biasness in different countries including Nepal. She added that it has been expected that the international conference would help to remove such biasness.     

Deputy Prime Minister and Urban Development Minister Prakashman Singh has said that legal system alone is not enough for gender equality. Addressing concluding event of the three-day international conference o on Thursday, DPM Singh said that every person should change their behavior for gender equality.

“Legal arrangements alone are not enough for gender equality.” I believe that such an international conference will play a role in bringing about changes in behaviour as every person should change their behaviour and work on women’s empowerment and gender mainstreaming. I think that the goal of addressing it has been achieved.’

Article 18 guarantees the right to equality under the fundamental rights of Nepal’s constitution.

Deputy Prime Minister Singh said that in Nepal, women, backward classes, and marginalized communities are represented in the government by law, and the legal system that women’s participation in the House of Representatives should be at least 33 percent is exemplary in the international arena.

‘To maintain gender equality, it is necessary to continue socially and culturally good practices while minimizing the harmful practices in the existing patriarchal society in Nepal,’ he said. And the government needs to hesitate.’

The International Conference on Gender Inclusiveness in National Human Rights Institutions was organized by National Human Rights Commission of Nepal (NHRC), in collaboration with the Asia Pacific Forum. (By R. P. Narayan)