Kathmandu, Nov 25: Former President Bidya Devi Bhandari has laid an emphasis to launch a massive awareness drive against ill practices, anomalies and aberration regarding women.
Former President Bhandari underscored effective implementation of the legal frameworks put in place against all sorts of discrimination and violence against women in a message on the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women on Saturday.
Bhandari, the first female President of the country, expressed her confidence that such campaign and Day would help increase awareness in the society thereby significantly contributing in eliminating violence against women.
With this Day, the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence kicked off in Nepal.
The former President in her message stated that women’s participation in politics, administration and other public service sectors was increasing significantly and their socio-economic status was also improving gradually in the wake of various constitutional, legal and structural arrangements that were put in place following several movements, social awareness and sensitization campaign for gender equality and for protecting and promoting women rights.
She, however, lamented that we were not being able to eliminate many discriminatory practices such as child marriage, polygamy, dowry, Chhaupadi, witchcraft accusation among others due to superstition, backwardness and lack of awareness.
Expressing her concern over the increasing cases of domestic violence, sexual abuse, acid attacks, women trafficking, rape and murder and new forms of exploitation and abuse facing women through the misuse of technology lately, Bhandari wished that may this Day would further encourage one and all to work more enthusiastically to eliminate violence against women.
The former President also extended her best wishes for the success of the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence.
