PRESS RELESE – 9^th March 2021

FPAN participates at IWD National Women’s Meet

The International Women's Day (IWD) was commemorated on March 8, 2021, by hosting a women's meet in collaboration with the Ministry of Women and other like-minded organizations. The event was packed with excited attendees carrying placards and yelling slogans about different problems that women faced. Individuals, women leaders, women networks, women with disabilities, women in defense, teachers, men who support women's rights, members from national and international organizations, media workers, and others gathered in unity.

The program was a success thanks to everyone's contributions with the participation of over 15,000 people.

FPAN cogently participated in a meet by displaying messages on play cards such as:

• Make abortion safe
• Comprehensive Sexuality Education : Access to all
• Benefits of investing in FP for maternal and child mortality
• SRH rights: Human Rights
• My body: My rights
• When she decides the world is better, stronger and safe,
• She decides to speak out and bring an end to violence and abuse,
• Motherhood is a choice. She has the right to decide when she is ready,
• She decides whether, when and with whom to marry, to have Children, etc

All of the FPAN's female employees took part in the initiative. It was a fruitful attempt to show messages on play cards, which added to the popularity and appeal of the event.

The event was held in Pragya Bhawan, where the program's chief guest, Rt. Honorable Bidhya Devi Bhandari, the President disseminated the Gender Equity Policy 2077, which was passed by cabinet on 5^th Magh 2077 (18^th January 2021).

Hon. Juli Mahato, Minister for Women, Children, and Social Welfare, spoke at the event and called for women to band together to end violence against women and the ACID attack. Ms. Muskan Khatun, an acid attack survivor, was honored in the program by Rt. Honorable President.

(“First Lady of the United States Jill Biden and Secretary of State Tony Blinken awarded International Women of Courage Award at a virtual ceremony on 8^th March 2021 to Muskan Khatun, 17 year old acid attack survivor. Muskan was critically injured in an acid attack in September 2019 for rejecting a boy’s proposal when she was 15. She had suffered severe burns on her face, chest, and hands.  Subsequently, after the tragedy, Muskan worked hard to bring about changes and lobbied for stronger laws and punishment for acid attacks.”) Source: TKP

Rt. Hon.  KP Oli, the Prime Minister, has pledged in writing to end violence against women and to vigorously support the implementation of the Gender Equity Agenda.

This year's International Women's Day theme was "Women in Leadership: Achieving an Equal Future in a COVID-19 World," and the national theme was “Women’s Security, Dignity and Employment: The Foundation of a Prosperous Nepal”

Similarly, all FPAN branch offices collaborated with the Women Development Office to organize a women's day program.