Geneva: Nepal has presented its seventh periodic report to the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW). The report was submitted by Nepal’s Minister for Women, Children, and Senior Citizens, Nawal Kishor Shah Sudi, during the 90th session of CEDAW, currently taking place in Geneva, Switzerland.
To ensure accessibility, the live broadcast of Nepal’s periodic report presentation to the CEDAW Committee was made available in Nepal by the Forum for Women, Law, and Development (FWLD).
On January 9, 2025, Nepal submitted its new Common Core Document to the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights. The report highlights Nepal’s progress in promoting human rights in line with international standards.
Nepal reaffirmed its full commitment to implementing the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women and has been strengthening its legal and policy frameworks to support this cause. The report reiterates the government’s dedication to promoting equal opportunities, rights, and legal protections for women.
While Nepal has made significant progress in achieving gender equality, the report acknowledges that challenges remain, especially in rural and marginalized communities. It states, “Nepal is committed to addressing these challenges through targeted policies, programs, and collaboration with international partners, civil society organizations, and women’s rights institutions.” The seventh periodic report provides an overview of both achievements and challenges in Nepal’s journey toward gender equality. The report states that although legal and policy reforms have been introduced, the effective implementation of these laws remains a major concern. “We look forward to the valuable recommendations from this committee,” the report adds.
Additionally, the report highlights that Nepal has incorporated recommendations from previous dialogues with the CEDAW Committee into its national policies. It states, “Our constitution guarantees fundamental rights for women, and 16 new laws have been enacted to uphold these rights. Furthermore, citizenship and other civil laws have been amended to align with the principles of equality.”
For the first time, Nepal’s National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) and National Women’s Commission (NWC) jointly submitted a report to the CEDAW Committee. NHRC member Lily Thapa presented the report, highlighting gaps in Nepal’s legal framework despite constitutional guarantees. She pointed out that direct, indirect, and systemic forms of discrimination still persist and that there is a lack of comprehensive legal definitions to address them.
Thapa also noted that although Nepal has taken proactive steps in lawmaking, implementation remains disorganized. She emphasized that the government’s commitment to establishing regional offices for the National Women’s Commission and granting it legally binding authority has yet to be fulfilled. The absence of these offices at the provincial level has particularly impacted marginalized communities, limiting their access to services and legal protections, as highlighted in the report.
Additionally, on Monday, FWLD presented a shadow report on behalf of civil society networks. On Tuesday, six representatives from civil society organizations presented their views on various aspects of Nepal’s progress regarding women’s rights.
Comment