Ambassador Dr. Anjan Shakya participated a special meeting of the Knesset Committee on the Status of Women and Gender Equality marking the twentieth anniversary of UNSC Resolution 1325. She was invited by MK Oded Forer, Chair, Committee on the Status of Women and Gender Equality.
She started her speech thanking the State of Israel and other countries who supported Nepali candidate Ms. Bandana Rana who has just been re-elected to the Committee on the Convention on the Elimination of All forms of Discrimination Against Women – CEDAW. She highlighted the provision incorporated in the Constitution of Nepal 2015 for gender equality and women empowerment. The Constitution (present) is inclusive and one of the most progressive constitutions in the world, passed by overwhelming majority of the lawmakers. It has guaranteed 33% of parliamentary seats (both in the lower and upper houses) for women. It has the provision of alternative arrangements for gender and communities in all elected or selected executive positions of the government. For example, the President and the Vice President of Nepal should represent different gender or communities. Similar arrangement is made for the selection or election of Speaker and Deputy Speaker of House of Representatives; Chairperson and Vice-Chairperson of the National Assembly; Mayor and Deputy Mayor of municipality and among other (elected) selected, nominated executive offices and government bodies. There are also reservation seats for women and others for government bodies. Because of the very progressive provision Nepal currently has around 40% female Members in its Parliament. After 10 years, there will be equal Nepali women in power. She wished to arrange a meeting between the Nepali and Israeli Parliamentarian, in this issue. The number of women is increasing worldwide. When we see the population composition by countries, more than half is usually covered by women. If this population remains idle, the country will certainly lag behind in development. As women form important share of nation, women should be encouraged if the country needs sustainable development. To run the chariot properly, two wheels must move together which equally applies in case of gender issue too. This issue has to come into discourse for all humankind and for humanity. Women should be provided opportunity for higher ranking and decision making position. For this the nation needs to groom them to get better results, she remarked.
