Kathmandu, March 8: Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ has said that the early detection and treatment of cervical and breast cancer will be promoted as a special program. Addressing the program organized on the 113th International Working Women’s Day here on Wednesday, the Prime Minister Dahal made it clear that free treatment for breast and uterus cancer will be arranged in all the seven provinces.
“Infertility treatment services in all seven provinces, establishment of newborn care centers at the ward level, early detection and treatment of cervical cancer and breast cancer in women will be expanded as a special program”, he said. “The government will launch an HPV vaccination program targeting a group of children between 9 to 13 years of age.”
Prime Minister Dahal has also said that a women-targeted nutrition program will be launched to end the anemia seen in about 34 percent of reproductive age women.
In Nepal, this day is celebrated with the national slogan of ‘Strong foundation of gender equality: expansion of women’s access to creative technologies’, he said that the issue of women’s rights is inextricably linked with the economic and political system of the society.
“Until the discrimination between men and women in the society and all forms of exploitation and oppression of women is ended, an egalitarian and prosperous society cannot be built,” Prime Minister Dahal further said, “Physically and socio-culturally, women are considered to be weak, women’s social environment shrinks, women cannot sustain a social existence like men. This traditional belief has been disproved by the heroism and bravery shown by women in the people’s war and people’s movement in Nepali.”
Prime Minister Dahal said that as a result of the bravery, sacrifice and struggle shown by women in the people’s war, people’s movement and various political and social change movements, the Constitution of Nepal has succeeded in establishing a proportional, inclusive and equitable state system by ending all kinds of discrimination, inequality and discrimination against women.
According to the Prime Minister, 33 percent women’s representation in state mechanism has been ensured at all levels of the state, there should be representation of different genders or communities in the president and vice president, women should be mandatory in the positions of speaker, deputy speaker, president and vice president of the National Assembly.
He said that 30 percent female representation in the federal and provincial parliaments, 40 percent female representation including one woman among the chief and deputy chief, president and vice president at the local level has been ensured. Mentioning that the constitution establishes women’s rights as fundamental rights and ensures the proportional inclusion of women in all state agencies, Prime Minister Dahal said that any kind of violence and exploitation against women is punishable and a policy of zero tolerance has been adopted.
According to the constitutional provisions, various policy, legal and institutional arrangements have been made to ensure meaningful participation of women in various mechanisms and processes at the federal, state and local levels.
“As a result of the policy, legal, structural and procedural reforms made by the state for gender equality and women’s development, the representation and participation of women in the field of politics and administration has increased significantly”, he said. The prime minister said that the improvement in Nepal’s gender development index has achieved the expected results of the policies, plans and programs adopted by the state in the field of women’s rights.
Mentioning that Nepal is progressing in the direction of achieving sustainable development goals regarding women’s sexual and reproductive health rights, the Prime Minister said that access to materials and services related to reproductive health has increased. The Prime Minister said, “It seems necessary to conduct economic and social development programs effectively in order to generate income, develop capacity and empower the poor and disadvantaged, Dalits, tribals, tribes, singles and disabled, women and adolescents who are victims of violence.”
The Prime Minister mentioned that since violence against women is inextricably linked with the social structure and political system, there is a need to connect it with the overall political change and the path to prosperity and carry out programs accordingly.
The Prime Minister said that in the short term, necessary initiatives will be taken to improve the livelihood of women affected by conflict and violence by providing relief, rescue, free legal aid and psycho-social counseling services.
Along with this, he expressed his commitment that special initiatives will be taken to build a gender-equitable society by studying the importance of domestic labor performed by women. Along with this, he said that the policy of mandatory inclusion of women working in the private sector in the social security fund will be strictly implemented.
According to the Prime Minister, the issue of guaranteeing women’s rights is connected with society, social structure and political system. As the issue of women’s rights is inextricably linked with the establishment of a socialist-oriented state along with the construction of a prosperous and self-reliant Nepal, the Prime Minister emphasized that everyone should take the decision to be determined in the direction of prosperity with social justice as envisioned by the constitution.
The Prime Minister said, “Though the rapid development of information technology has made women’s lives easier, by increasing women’s access to technology, with special arrangements for women’s safety, respect and employment, let everyone be inspired to commit to the journey of building a gender-equality nation.”
