Empowerment of women in Nepal still a far cry
The empowerment and democratic rights of Nepalese women are still a far cry, although they took part in the struggle to establish a democratic state, Dr Bina Pradhan, a gender, population and development specialist from Nepal, said yesterday.
"Unless Nepalese women find places in the government and other democratic bodies and their empowerment is ensured, the miseries of women of the country will not be removed," she said.
Dr Bina, an adviser to the National Planning Commission and Social Development Division of Nepal, made the remarks while delivering a lecture on 'Women and people's war in Nepal' as the key speaker at Dhaka University. The Department of Women and Gender Studies organised the lecture at Nabab Nawab Ali Chowdhury Bahaban.
Dr Bina presented a slide show on the recent conflict in Nepal, pre- and post-conflict position of women and the experiences of women during the conflict.
April 2006 was the turning point in the history of Nepal that restored parliament and sovereign power of the people after 10 years of intense political and social struggle, she said, adding that people, especially women, participated in the conflict directly or indirectly viewing it as an opportunity for bringing real changes in their lives.
Younger women, mostly between the ages of 17-35 years, were directly affected by the conflicts and they are still leading frustrating lives in the country as the government is yet to take up any vital initiatives to enroll them in education or work-field, she added.
Dr Bina stressed the need to bring some planned structural changes in society and also at different democratic bodies in Nepal to lead the post-conflict development and ensure democratic rights of people.
Founding chair of the department Prof Najma Chowdhury, incumbent chair Ayesha Banu, and Executive Director of Research Initiatives, Bangladesh (RIB) Meghna Guha Thakurata were also present at the lecture.
Comments