HoR endorses ‘historic’ proposal on women rights

The House of Representatives (HoR) has unanimously endorsed a landmark proposal on women rights that allows acquisition of citizenships by the name of mothers and 33 percent reservation to women in all state mechanisms, among others.

A sitting of the HoR on Tuesday endorsed the ‘motion of public importance’ presented by CPN (UML) MP Bidhya Devi Bhandari on Monday. The proposal seeks to end to all forms of discrimination against the women.

Now, with the ratification of the proposal, citizenship certificates can be issued by the name of mothers and women will have 1/3rd share at all levels of the state mechanism. As per existing provisions, citizenships are issued only by the name of father for which identification of the father is mandatory. This had been depriving the children of single mothers from citizenships.

The proposal has also opened the doors for annulment of all discriminatory laws in terms of gender. Women rights groups have been pointing out that at least 139 laws are discriminatory to women.

Talking to state-owned Radio Nepal, Minister for Women, Children and Social Welfare, Urmila Aryal, termed the parliament’s decision as being historic in liberating the women from manifold discriminations.

Minister Aryal further said the government would now have to gear up for adoption of laws on the basis of the proposal endorsed by the House. “After the endorsement of the proposal by the parliament, the government now has the duty to adopt laws to guarantee at least 33 percent women participation in state mechanisms, distribution citizenships by the name of mothers and curb domestic violence.” nepalnews.com mk May 30 06

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