International Women's Day 2009 - Nepal UNESCO joined the United Nations theme group on Gender, to celebrate the 99th International Women’s Day in Nepal. The theme for this year is Women and Men United to End Violence against Women and Girls.

 
Men and boys must be engaged as agents of change to end violence against women, and join the campaign with women to promote gender equality. This year's 99th International Women's Day was celebrated together with the National Women’s Commission and Ministry of Women, Children and Social Welfare coordinated by the UN Theme Group on Gender. This is the first time that the UN system in Nepal, the Nepal Army, the Nepal police, the Armed Force and more than 120 organizations came together to mark the day jointly.

*************************
Photo: Mass Rally March © UNIC
*************************

On the occasion of the International Women’s Day, the United Nations in Nepal praised the government and the people of Nepal for achieving 33% representation of women in the Constituent Assembly, the highest in South Asia, and appealed to every individual for zero tolerance to violence against women.

The main activities carried out to commemorate International Women's Day 2009 were:

A formal programme to mark the opening of International Women’s Day was organized on 7 March 2009, which was inaugurated by the Honorable Minister for Peace and Reconstruction, Mr. Janardan Sharma Pravakar. The programme started with a blend of musical performances from different parts of Nepal, with relevant messages on the theme of International Women's Day. A number of outstanding women journalists and women cooperatives were also honored.

A mass street rally was organized on 8 March 2009 in which thousands of people, organizations, police, students and leaders of political parties participated. There was a live telecast of this event by the Nepal Television and Radio. Television spots on gender-based violence were also broadcasted by major national television channels.

A live radio broadcast was organized jointly by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR)in Nepal, the UNESCO Field Office in Kathmandu and Communications Corner to highlight the importance of the work carried out by women journalists and human rights defenders in Central Terai. Despite social, cultural, economic and security challenges, these women are increasingly participating in protecting and promoting human rights, often under difficult conditions. One of the participants told the organizers of the event she and other women listened to the radio broadcast and consequently they all decided that by next year's International Women's Day, the 100th anniversary, they will ensure that the socio-economic situation of women in Nepal improves significantly.

Women have for a long time contributed actively to the development of their communities, but their roles have not always received appropriate recognition. Women journalists and human rights defenders help to draw attention to the situation of women in Nepal, enabling them to respond in different ways to problems encountered specifically by women.

Women journalists and human rights defenders are role models for all women seeking to be included, represented, and to participate in State affairs. They have a vital role to play in the peace process and creation of a new Nepal.

The three organizations have called upon all actors to respect women and their work and to support women journalists and human rights defenders in promoting human rights and contributing to establishing an environment in which the rights and freedom of all Nepalese are respected.