KATHMANDU, Nov 22: The country is all set to observe the annual 16-Day Activism against Gender-Based Violence from November 25.
The Ministry of Women, Children and Senior Citizens has decided to partner with various governmental and non-governmental agencies to celebrate the activism till December 10.
The national theme for this global campaign this year is 'Our commitment: Solidarity for ending gender-based violence' while the international theme for this year is 'Towards 30 years of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action: Unite to end violence against women.'
To mark the campaign, the organizers will hold a rally at Maitighar Mandala in Kathmandu on the inaugural day of the activism that calls for prevention and elimination of violence against women and girls.
16-day activism against GBV kicks off
The rally will end at Bhrukutimandap while the celebratory programmes will run throughout the 16 days, said Mamata Bista, chief women development officer under the ministry.
Bista shared that the ministry has allocated Rs 1 million to observe the activism. According to her, the ministry has emphasized awareness programmes like in the past during the campaign.
Also, deliberations will be held with lawmakers in various provinces as part of the campaign.
Furthermore, the government has decided to coordinate with various social organizations to launch awareness drive in schools, Bista informed, adding that the ministry will be publishing a special booklet targeting the activism.
"There will be a different event each day for running awareness campaign and to mark the activism," she noted.
The activism commences on November 25 coinciding with the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women and ends on December 10 marking the International Human Rights Day.
The activism was initiated by activists at the first Centre for Women's Global Leadership Institute in 1991 and is being celebrated by 187 countries since then.