Nepal is marking the 115th International Women’s Day today with various programmes highlighting women’s rights, equality, and empowerment. The global theme for this year’s celebration is ‘For all women and girls: rights, equality, and empowerment.’
The Ministry of Women, Children, and Senior Citizens is hosting a special function to commemorate the occasion, while women’s organizations affiliated with different political parties are organizing separate events to celebrate the day.
International Women’s Day, observed annually on March 8, honors the economic, political, and social contributions of women worldwide while advocating for gender equality, women’s empowerment, and the eradication of gender-based violence. Nepal’s Constitution has enshrined women’s rights as fundamental, ensuring proportional representation in political and administrative sectors. Currently, women constitute 34 percent of representatives in the federal parliament, 36.5 percent in provincial assemblies, and 41.1 percent at the local level. Female employees account for around 28 percent of the civil service workforce.
The United Nations has officially observed International Women’s Day since 1975. The day traces its origins to March 8, 1908, when over 15,000 women in the United States staged a demonstration demanding better pay, shorter working hours, and voting rights — a milestone in the struggle for women’s rights and welfare.
In his message for the occasion, President Ram Chandra Paudel highlighted the principle of proportional inclusion in the Constitution as a milestone for ensuring women’s meaningful representation in political, social, economic, cultural, and educational sectors. He emphasized the importance of equal access for women in education, health, employment, policy-making, decision-making, and politics to achieve gender equality and women’s empowerment.
President Paudel also called for more effective programs to eliminate harmful practices that perpetuate physical and mental violence against women and girls.
Similarly, Vice President Ram Sahay Prasad Yadav underscored the need for awareness campaigns on gender equality and women’s rights. He stressed the importance of empowering women through social, economic, and educational means to strengthen their identity and self-reliance. He acknowledged women’s vital contributions to the nation’s development and called for coordinated efforts to enhance their literacy, awareness, and self-sufficiency.
House of Representatives Speaker Devraj Ghimire and National Assembly Chairperson Narayan Prasad Dahal also extended their best wishes to all women and girls on the occasion of International Women’s Day.
