KATHMANDU, July 17: The county had the local-level election (third phase is still awaited) conducted for the first time in nearly two decades, electing 60 single women (widows) on different posts ranging from deputy mayor to ward member. 

Women for Human Rights (WHR), single women group and South Asian Network for Widows' Empowerment and Development (SANWED) honored them amidst a two-day South Asian Regional Workshop "Together We Can" here today. Vice President Nanda Bahadur Pun feted 44 of them able to present on the occasion. 

Chandannath Municipality's ( Jumla) deputy mayor Kantika Sejuwal, Namobuddha Municipality ( Kavrepalanchowk) deputy mayor Ram Devi Tamang and Bajura's district coordination committee member Radhika Sunar were among those feted on the occasion. 

Feting them, the Vice President said the election helped trigger the political sense at a higher-level among the women and finally took them to the positions of serving the people. He underlined the need of collective efforts among government, people's representatives and human rights activists to end all sorts of violence against women. 

Secretary at the Ministry of Women, Children and Social Welfare, Khagraj Baral, said the Nepal's constitution had guaranteed 33 per cent women participation in every state organ and formulation of required laws and policies to implement this system was underway. 
Secretary at the Ministry of Peace and Reconstruction, Gajendra Thakur, stating that the government was ready to cooperative with organisations concerned to work in the sector of women rights. 

On the occasion, group founding chairwoman Lily Thapa was awarded the 'Dayawati Modi Stri Shakti Award'. 

The workshop will hold discussions on the matters of rights of South Asian women, seeking single women's meaningful participation in poverty alleviation, political empowerment, peace and reconstruction, and development efforts, according to group chairperson Nirmala Sharma Dhungana. RSS 

 
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