News and Events

International Women's Day in Nepal

Women activists call for health rights in the new constitution 


On the eve of International Women’s Day, over 1,500 women’s activists held a rally in Kathmandu. The rally was organised by the Nepal Safe Motherhood Federation, who support a network of over 500 Non government organizations (NGOs) working for women’s empowerment. Its chairperson is Dr Arzoo Rana Deuba, a leading activist and a prospective candidate for the Constituent Assembly elections.

The participants of the rally comprised of NGO activists, health workers, famous artists and government officials. They carried placards and banners around the city ending with speeches near Parliament and a visit to the largest public maternity hospital where they gave out hats and baby suits to babies born that day.

Dr Arzoo stated that they wanted to secure key health related rights in the new Constitution. In the picture she is seen holding a placard articulating these: ensure women have access to emergency maternity care within 2 hours of their home and that women have the right to be delivered by a skilled attendant. 

In less than one month Nepal is going to hold an election to a Constituent Assembly which will then write a new constitution.  Impassioned campaigning on a range of issues is now underway and international theme days are being used to highlight development agendas.

The Federation and the wider community of women health rights activists in Nepal have successfully campaigned for policy change in the past – most notably in the legalisation of abortion in 2002.

DFID’s Support to the Safe Motherhood programme (SSMP)  works closely with the Federation. At the end of the day, Hom Nath Subedi, Equity and Access Adviser for SSMP said  “The rally aimed to influence the Constituent Assembly in drafting a Constitution that enshrines women’s health related rights. Today was a good contribution to this: we have been able to deliver our message to the public, policy makers and political leaders.” 

Mr Subedi, a seasoned women’s activist, as ever took the opportunity to advocate to men – on this event ,  he was engaging policemen, who were accompanying the rally, on their role in advancing women’s rights.  

 


18/03/2008 Administrator