Nepal advances guarantees of rights related to reproduction, property and political participation
Substantive efforts to promote gender equality and women’s empowerment in Nepal include affirmative policies and laws, mandatory participation of women in all civil and security agencies, and a zero-tolerance policy on sexual and domestic violence. The national women’s commission has constitutional status, and gender features across all development policies and programmes, including through a gender-responsive budgeting system that covers 22 per cent of the total budget. Women enjoy all fundamental rights and freedoms enshrined in Nepal’s new Constitution, with article 43 devoted to rights to lineage, safe maternity and reproduction, protection against all forms of exploitation, and equality in family matters and property. The Constitution ensures at least 33 per cent of parliamentarians are women, and requires the president and the vice-president to be different genders. Speaking at the Global Leaders' Meeting on 27 September 2015, Deputy Prime Minister Prakash Man Singh said: “Women's empowerment through their full and effective participation in all spheres of society and elimination of violence and discrimination constitute the key to socioeconomic development on a sustainable basis.” [Speech]