KATHMANDU, March 8: People worldwide are celebrating the 115th International Women's Day today with various programs under the main slogan, "Rights, Equality, and Empowerment for All Women and Girls."
The government, concerned bodies, and various women's organizations have planned grand celebrations for this occasion. The Ministry of Women, Children, and Senior Citizens has organized a special ceremony at the Nepal Police Headquarters. Similarly, women's organizations affiliated with different political parties have also scheduled programs for International Women's Day.
This day recognizes women's economic, political, and social achievements worldwide while promoting their access to technology, strengthening empowerment, and eliminating gender inequality and violence. It also aims to educate women, make them self-reliant, and ensure they receive due respect.
Nepal's constitution upholds a policy to eliminate all forms of discrimination, exploitation, and injustice based on religion, culture, traditions, customs, or any other basis, striving to build a civilized and egalitarian society.
Furthermore, the Constitution establishes women's rights as fundamental rights. Women's participation in political and administrative sectors has increased significantly under the principle of proportional and inclusive representation. Currently, women hold 34% of federal parliament seats, 36.5% of provincial assembly seats, and 41.1% of local government positions. Similarly, women make up 28% of Nepal's civil servants.
However, discriminatory social practices and traditions continue to fuel rising incidents of physical and mental violence against girls and women. Society must take collective and effective action to end such practices. More efforts are necessary to ensure equal access for women in all sectors, including education, health, employment, policymaking, decision-making, and politics.
The United Nations started celebrating International Women's Day in 1975. The first Women's Day carried the slogan, "Celebrating the Past and Planning for the Future." On March 8, 1908, more than 15,000 women in the United States protested, demanding shorter working hours, better wages, and voting rights. This protest became a turning point, sparking global discussions on women's rights. Women's Day honors the day when women themselves launched the struggle for their rights.