Jagaran News
An Interaction on “A Perspective to MDGs & Women’s Economic, Social and Cultural Rights’ Issues to Be Incorporated in New Constitution”29 December, 2009:
Jagaran Nepal organized a fourth round interaction program on " A perspectives to Millennium Development Goals and Women's Economic, Social and Cultural Rights' issues to be incorporated in new constitution" on 28th December at the seminar hall of Center for Constitution Dialogue (CCD), Kathmandu. More than 65 participants along with 35 women CA members, journalists, paper presenter and representatives of civil society organizations were presented in the program. Dr. Yub Raj Khatiwada, vice-chairperson of National Planning Commission was the chief guest and leading r Women CA members were the guest of the program. The program was facilitated by the
program Coordinator of Jagaran Nepal, Meena Bista and it was immediately followed by the President of Jagaran Nepal's Sharmila Karki. Sharmila Karki during her speech highlighted about the objectives and rationale of the program and she stressed on the integrated approach to ensure the Economic, Social and Cultural rights of women. She underscored for the concrete and objective suggestions on the part of CA members to make reach this project up to the grassroots level. At the end of her speech, she welcomed to all participants for their presence in the program. Along with completion speech of Sharmila Karki, Sharba Raj Khadka, an expert presented the paper on ESCR and MDGs. The paper focused the relationship between Economic, Social and Cultural Rights of women and Millennium Development Goals. The paper presentation was followed by open discussion.
The leading CA members took actively part in the discussion and they opined as:
Yasoda Subedi, CA member
She thanked Jagaran Nepal for initiating such program. She dissented on not focusing the programs at grassroots level. She stressed out the need of governance and transparency of organizational interventions and their recourses. Ms Subedi highlighted to organize such programs among women group of grassroots level and asked to enrich their skills and knowledge on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights.
Janak Chalise, CA member
She was thankful to Jagaran Nepal for taking the initiative in organizing such programs which is really fruitful for enriching their knowledge on ESCR. She highlighted the following factors which are detrimental for achieving the MDGs i) 20% developed countries are holding the resources and 80% developing countries are deprived of achieving the MDGs due to lack of resources. ii) At national level, almost all resources are on the hand of 5% elite people. She appealed all to unite in the campaign of hunger. Furthermore, she stressed to the special programs for deprived women of Dalit, Janajati, Muslim and community women and focused with uniformity and plan of action.
Jaya Puri Gharti, CA member
Jaya Puri Gharti said women are deprived of enjoying Economic, Social and Cultural rights because of patriarchal mindset and value of our society. Not only this, feudal social and cultural structure has always moved back the women from the state's development process. She expressed that the external support has not produced any concrete conclusion in favor of women and especially women among Dalits, Janajati and others communities. She asked for the special attention towards ensuring Economic, Social and Cultural rights of women from State level. Organization's interventions have contributed to enrich the knowledge to some extent but she suggested to launch such programs at local level.
Leela Nengchai, CA member
She suggested redefining the poverty on the basis of geography, caste, region and community and asked to develop the indicators accordingly. She said lump-sum program will not contribute to reduce the poverty and further suggested to conduct the program disintegrated way.
Tham Maya Thapa, CA member
Tham Maya Thapa said new constitution should address the issues of Economic, Social and Cultural Rights of women. She opined that political instability has hindered to achieve the target of MGDs as country was under insurgency when the program was launched. People's expectations are high but we are not being able to satiate their needs and expectation, she further opined. She appealed for the common commitment from all political parties and their leaders for achieving MDGs.
Sabitra Bhusal, CA member
She thanked Jagaran Nepal for conducting such discussion program on these emerging issues of Women's Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. She stressed on the implementation of the program effectively. Ms Bhusal further urged the government and all concerned stakeholders for taking immediate initiatives to ensure women's representation in all sectors of government and include women in policy and plan formulation. She underscored the need of partnership with sister organizations of different political parties in development interventions. She opined women are the real claimer of 50% representation and they must be empowered to hold the position. She suggested the organizations to take necessary initiatives for capacity building programs.
Yasoda Gurung, CA member
Nepal's economic development status, social structure, income generating sources is far below as compared with other developed countries. So, the documents which are made in developed countries' perspectives may not be applicable in the countries like ours, she said. Program should be focused on the women empowerment, maternal security and reproductive health. Concrete planning should be initiated for the implementation which is focused on improving women's overall status. Women's domestic workload should be appraised on the basis of the time they devoted for. Special rights of women should be provided to achieve MDGs and ensure the Economic, Social and Cultural rights of Women.
Dr. Yub Raj Khatiwada, Vice-chairman National Planning Commission
Yub Raj Khatiwada stressed the need of linking the MDGs with education, health, poverty and overall development process and formulation of plans as to represent the MDGs. He further said that National Planning Commission has been reviewing the status of MDGs achievements and find out the future course of action. He informed that they are preparing three-year plan by addressing the Millennium Development Goals. He addressed that smooth implementation is the main challenge of the planning. He called up the support of CA members to raise the voice for adequate attention of the government to respect the signed international conventions and instruments. He made aware the CA members not to incorporate all the MDGs' targets in the Constitution rather they can be included by laws and by-laws compliance of the constitution.
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• Common commitment from CA members, government representatives and civil society organizations to contribute from their part to achieve MDGs in the coming years.
• Women CA members became aware in the achievement of Millennium Development Goals in Nepal with importance to gain the knowledge on ESCR to fulfill the gaps between elite and disadvantaged and marginalized groups.
• All participated CA members committed to lobby and advocate women issues in different CA committees while deliberation and ensure them to be drafted in the new constitution. In addition, they pledged to make discussion on ESCR.
• Different political parties' women leaders empowered to discuss on MDGs and ESCR with the role of women CA members in new constitution.
• Due commitment from the government body to incorporate women's Economic, Social and Cultural rights in National three years planning.
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