Nepal NHRC to host international conference from Sept 3

The National Human Rights Commission, in collaboration with NHRI and the Asia-Pacific Forum, is hosting an International Conference on 'Gender inclusionÚ  in National Human Rights Institutions' in Kathmandu from September 3-5, 2024. This conference will be attended by representatives from the Government of Nepal, National Human Rights Organizations from 26 Asia-Pacific Forum countries, the Asia-Pacific Forum of National Human Rights Organizations, the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, the United Nations Development Program Nepal, UN Women, UNFPA, and other stakeholders. National human rights organizations from India, Fiji, Indonesia, Iraq, Jordan, Malaysia, Maldives, Mongolia, Oman, Philippines, Qatar, and Thailand have already confirmed their participation.

The conference will address challenges in maintaining gender equality within national human rights organizations, offer solutions  and discuss ways to strengthen commissions. It will focus on how human rights organizations, governments, and civil society can work together to uphold pluralism and gender mainstreaming. Dr. Lily thapa of the National Human Rights Commissioner Nepal emphasized that this conference is a crucial opportunity to share insights and foster partnerships for advancing gender equality and human rights globally. We anticipate meaningful discussions and impactful outcomes from this meeting.

The conference will examine the role of external stakeholders in advancing gender equality within national human rights institutions. It aims to identify and address systemic barriers to gender equality in both internal and external operations and to discuss how to prioritize gender equality in addressing global issues. The conference will also focus on developing strategies to foster dialogue among human rights organizations, share best practices, and advocate for action to enhance gender mainstreaming and inclusion. Ultimately, it is expected to contribute to more inclusive and equitable human rights protection worldwide and help in creating a framework for its promotion and implementation.

Murari Prasad Kharail, Secretary of the National Human Rights Commission Nepal, stated, "This program will advocate strongly for climate change and gender justice, including integrating gender perspectives into sustainable development efforts and enhancing women's participation in policy-making processes." The Commission has appointed Kumar Abhinav as the International Media Coordinator for the conference. Abhinav emphasized that the conference is a crucial platform for discussing and addressing key issues and strategies related to gender inclusion within National Human Rights Institutions (NHRIs). He added that the goal is to foster meaningful dialogue and cooperation among member countries to advance gender equality and human rights globally.

The objectives of the conference are to assess the Paris Principles from a gender perspective and explore how national human rights institutions can enhance pluralism through gender inclusion. It will review the progress of national human rights organizations in implementing the 2nd Amman Declaration-2012, identify factors that promote gender equality, and pinpoint obstacles in both internal and external operations, offering solutions. Additionally, the conference aims to encourage dialogue among national human rights organizations to address the impacts of climate change and advance gender justice.