CWAD organized consultation meeting with Ministry of Women, Children and Senior Citizen (MoWCSC) on 22nd January 2021 (9th Magh, 2077) via zoom meeting supported by The Asia Foundation (TAF), South Asian Small Grant Program (SASGP). Various like-minded CSO’s, Concerned stakeholders, public participation, media personal as well as the Secretary of MoWCSC Ms. Yamuna Khatiwoda (Baskota) as a Key-note Speaker on “लैङ्गिक हिंसा अन्त्यको प्रतिबद्धताः व्यक्ति, समाज, र सबैको ऐक्यवद्धता”.
The objective of this Consultation Meeting was to understand the doing of the Ministry till date on Gender Responsive Budgeting (GRB). And to collect views and opinions from all the participants regarding the advocacy on being more gender friendly during planning, budgeting and decision making. As well as to maintain transparency and accountability in policy formulation from GESI perspective.
Prof. Dr. Shashi Adhikary gave an concept of Gender Responsive Budgeting (GRB) via a paper presentation, mentioning that the GRB is a government comprehensive statement created to reduce gender inequality through providing economic incentives. Moreover, she justified that Gender-responsive budgeting is not about creating separate budgets for women, rather it is for both men and women to achieve gender equality and women’s empowerment.
Then the Key-note Speaker Ministry of Women Children and Senior Citizen (MoWCS) Secretary Yamkumari Khatiwada Baskota thanked to the organizing committee for giving the opportunity to share Women Ministry work for women empowerment and initiative for reducing gender inequality in Nepal. She moved forward focusing on the issues mentioned in the Constitution of Nepal, Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), Periodic Plans, Policies and Programs, which have created national, regional, and international positions for women’s empowerment and gender equality. Women Ministry has been carried out continuously Social awareness program against harmful practices, contact person has been appointed by requesting daily details of the incidents related to gender-based violence, Chhaupadi and harmful social norms. A campaign against harmful practices has been conducted in coordination and partnership with the support of the local level and the province government and creating public awareness through broadcasting T.V. Radio, Local F.M. in local language as well.
During the open floor discussion session various representatives participated with their say such as, Saloni Singh from Didibaini, Sanjita Timisina from WOREC, Tika Dahal from NDWA, Kalyanee Shah from Women Security Pressure Group, Irada Gautam from AAWAJ, Uma RL Shah from Sathi Nepal, from FRESH International Shanti Risal Kaphle, Nisha Rai from CDWN, Nitu Padnit from Sancharika Samuha (media), Shreya Khanal from Jagaran Nepal, Kranti Tamang from Shanti Foundation, Meera Dhungana from FWLD, and Anjana Neupane from LACC had their says as well as inputs and suggestions as per the context of Nepal from the various practices done all around the world.