Lawyers, journalists and activists have urged the government to revise at least 41 acts and legal provisions to enact laws related to gender equality and women empowerment more women-friendly.  

In an interaction organised by Media Advocacy Group in collaboration with UN Women in the Capital on Thursday, the campaigners concluded that the existing laws and constitutional provision are still incapable of ensuring equal rights to women who constitute more than half of the nation’s population.

The interaction dwelt on numerous issues pertaining to women’s rights and gender equality that among other include citizenship rights, rights to equality, violence against women, women’s right to reproductive health, women’s rights to social justice, social security. 

The programme also discussed more burning issues like women’s representation in the state bodies, including the national security.

Making a presentation, Advocate Om Prakash Aryal said the constitution, though largely progressive in terms of women’s rights, has some regressive provisions.

Under-Secretary at the Law Ministry Indira Dahal said the government was committed to ensure equal rights to women in accordance with international laws and conventions. 

Citing her personal study, Dahal said that there was a need to formulate 138 new laws.