Stating that women are the most vulnerable group hit hard by the climate change and environmental effects, the government further pledged that it would prioritize policies and programs in the sector of environment and climate change mitigation and adaptation in the coming days.
Addressing the on-going 59th session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) at UN Headquarters on Wednesday, Minister for Women, Children and Social Welfare (MoWCS) Nilam KC said, "I express commitment to mainstream gender equality perspectives in all our policies and programs, including in environment and climate change mitigation and adaptation.”
She further stated that the government still faces significant challenges to combat harmful patriarchal practical values and persistent sexual and domestic violence against women and girls despite tremendous progress in gender equality and women's empowerment in the last 20 years.
“The prevailing discrimination against women and girls on grounds of caste, class, creed, ethnicity and ability should be addressed," she added.
The global review of the Beijing +20, adopted during the Fourth World Conference of women in Beijing in 1995, is being carried out at the ongoing CSW. The Beijing Platform for Action was adopted by 189 countries which included 12 critical areas such as women and environment, women in power and decision making, the girl child, women and poverty, violence against women, human rights of women, education and training of women, institutional mechanism for the advancement of women, women and health, women and the media, and women and armed conflict.
Addressing the opening ceremony, Hillary Clinton said, “Women and men who understand that gender equality is not just morally right but is the smart thing to do are growing in numbers,” adding, “The achievement and progress we made in last 20 years took commitment, accountability, unity and lot of hard work.”
The UN commission is undertaking review of progress made by the member countries in the last 20 years in terms of implementation of the Beijing Platform for Action. Member countries have submitted their respective reports on achievement but civil societies have raised strong voices about the gaps and challenges in achieving gender goals. The session will issue an outcome document at the end of the 12-day-long program that will end on March 20.
Source: Republica | 12 March 2015
