KATHMANDU, Aug 21: Experts have called for taking more initiatives regarding safe motherhood and reproductive rights by prioritizing economic development and inclusiveness to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

During the programme organized by UNFPA in the capital on Sunday, they also emphasized fulfillment of the commitments regarding population and development for achieving SDGs. Under the goal no 5 of the SDGs – 'gender equality', Nepal has pledged to end all forms of discrimination against women and girls everywhere as well as to eliminate all forms of violence against women and girls.

As Nepal is fulfilling its commitments to end child marriage and forced marriage among other ill practices prevailing in the country, thereby becoming effortful to achieve SDGs, the experts highlighted the need for Nepal to scale up its efforts such as awareness drive and developmental endeavors towards achieving the SDGs by 2030.

Chief of the Department of Population Studies at Tribhuvan University, Dr Prof Yogendra Bahadur Gurung, said that although infant mortality rate, maternal mortality rate and child marriage rate had come down significantly in Nepal as per the latest census in 2021 Nepal needs to step up our efforts and work more actively to achieve SGDs within the stipulated time.

Stating that challenges for human security were mounting lately due to urban or Terai centric migration, he said we should pay attention towards it. According to him, Nepal recently reached a stage of achieving its target of reducing population growth rate that was envisaged since the third five-year periodic plan.

Similarly, UNFPA Representative for Nepal, Won Young Hong, suggested that Nepal focus on economic development and advance social development since, she argued, that economic development. She argued that economic development is important for public health rights and equality.

Likewise, activist Bandana Rana observed that time had come for Nepal to prepare for the next phase of policy making by evaluating the goals set by the International Conference on Population and Development.

She said that sexual and reproductive health services and financial policy should be made inclusive to empower all women and girls in line with the SDGs' Goal No 5 to attain gender equality.

(RSS)

 
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