KATHMANDU, Aug 6: The International Conference on Gender Inclusion in National Human Rights Institutions (NHRIs) is scheduled to take place in Kathmandu from September 3-5.

Organized by the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) in collaboration with the Asia Pacific Forum (APF) of National Human Rights Institutions, the conference aims to promote compliance with the principle of pluralism, gender mainstreaming, research, policy recommendations, capacity building, and resource allocation. These efforts are designed to ensure that NHRIs effectively promote and protect the human rights of women and girls.

Participants from 26 nations across the Asia Pacific are expected to attend the conference. The NHRC anticipates that this event will provide a critical platform to address and overcome the challenges faced by NHRIs in achieving gender equality within their structures and operations. "The conference aims to address systemic barriers to gender equality in the internal and external operations of these bodies, making gender equality a priority amidst emerging global issues," the NHRC stated.

NHRC Joint-Secretary Nawaraj Sapkota indicated that government representatives, national human rights institutes from the 26 nations associated with the APF, as well as officials from the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, UN Development Programme Nepal, UN Women, and UNFPA, are expected to attend the event.

NHRC Chair Top Bahadur Magar highlighted that the conference will assess the Paris Principles from a gender perspective, identifying gender gaps in NHRIs, the challenges in addressing them, and exploring potential solutions. The focus will be on promoting coordination and collaboration among NHRIs, government bodies, civil society, and other stakeholders to strengthen these institutions, implement pluralism, and enhance gender mainstreaming.

NHRC Member Lily Thapa expressed confidence that the conference will encourage dialogue between inter-human rights organizations, facilitate the exchange of best practices, and promote gender mainstreaming and inclusion in national human rights organizations. Under-Secretary Sapkota added that approximately 150 participants are expected, with confirmations from 17 countries, including India, Fiji, Indonesia, Iraq, Jordan, Malaysia, Maldives, Mongolia, Oman, Philippines, Qatar, Thailand, and Timor-Leste.

The three-day conference will feature discussions across seven sessions. The NHRC has also launched a website—Gender Conference NHRC—to provide all necessary information about the event.