National Information Commission (NIC), the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and Empowerment of Women-UN Women Nepal and Zonta Club Nepal jointly organised a programme in Kathmandu to take a stand against violence against women as part of the commemoration of the 25th year of 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence Campaign. 

The programme held on Monday also included the launch of the English version of the book documenting government’s schemes and provisions on Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment, and the screening of a joint UN video “Take a Stand against Gender-Based Violence”, according to a press release issued by UN Women Nepal.  

“Violence against women is one of the key hurdles to attain gender equality,” said Sharu Shrestha, strategic partnership specialist at UN Women Nepal. “Worldwide, 4.5 million people are victim of sexual exploitation, and 98 percent of them are women. In Nepal, 12.3 percent of women aged 15-49 experience sexual violence at least once in their lifetime.”

Stating that Right to Information (RTI) is a tool to address violence against women, Shreshta laid stress on the need for collaboration among stakeholders to combat the menace. Speaking at the programme, Shreejana Rana, president of Zonta Club Nepal, said, “Violence against women and girls is one of the most pervasive human rights violations that threatens countries, inhibits economic progress and prevents women from contributing to their community and creating better lives for themselves and families.” 

Krishna Hari Baskota, chief information commissioner at NIC, expressed confidence that the English version of the book documenting government’s schemes and provisions on gender equality and empowerment launched with support from UN Women and Zonta Club will help raise awareness about the need of the RTI to promote gender equality and women’s economic empowerment.