Stating that there are new challenges faced by women after the April 25 earthquake, the Ministry of Women, Children and Social Welfare (MoWCSW) has informed that such issues need to be addressed properly.
Speaking at a press conference organized in the capital on Monday to inform about the progress of the 6th periodic and shadow report of CEDAW, MOWCSW under secretary Radhika Aryal said, "We have raised the issue of earthquake and its direct impact on women including the rights guaranteed by the new constitution in the periodic report."
The MoWCSW, which is responsible for submitting the periodic report to the CEDAW committee, said that it couldn't submit the report on time due to the earthquakes.
Aryal informed that they will present the report to the cabinet by next month and submit it to CEDAW commission at the earliest.
CEDAW is regarded as one of the most powerful international conventions when it comes to gender equality and violence against women. CEDAW committee, after reviewing the periodic reports, can make the signatory countries accountable to implement the laws on gender equality. Nepal ratified CEDAW in 1991 and has already submitted five periodic reports.
Speaking at the function, senior advocate and human rights activist Sapana Malla Pradhan shared that the shadow report of the 6th periodic report will incorporate the new issues of transitional justice, problems faced by women during natural disaster and right to information.
She even shared that it is very important for Nepal to raise the issue of "non-citizens" in the international forum as many women are working abroad as migrant workers.
At the function, participants also protested against the mandatory requirment of father's name for registering birth of a child and demanded that the issue be included in the CEDAW shadow report.
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