Nepal’s Foreign Minister, Arzu Rana Deuba, emphasised that while Nepal has made significant progress in women’s empowerment over the past 30 years, many challenges persist. Speaking at an event organised by UN Women Nepal to release the Beijing+30 Civil Society Report, Minister Rana highlighted the need for continued commitment to gender equality.

Reflecting on the legacy of the Fourth World Conference on Women held in Beijing three decades ago, Rana noted its role in establishing constitutional and legal rights for Nepali women. “The Beijing conference was instrumental in securing rights for Nepali women, including gender equality and the elimination of violence against women,” she said, sharing her experiences from the event. Over the years, the women’s movement in Nepal has made gains in areas such as reproductive health and women’s rights, she added.

However, Rana underscored the ongoing challenges Nepali women face in economic participation, education, health, employment, and equal access to justice. She called for collaboration between the government and civil society to address these issues.

Rana also spoke of advancements in girls’ school enrollment, women’s labor market participation, maternal health, property rights, and the criminalization of child marriage. Yet, she stressed the need to focus on intersectionality to ensure women from marginalized communities, including indigenous, Dalit, and disabled women, are included in gender equality efforts.

The Foreign Minister expressed concern over persistent discrimination and the impact of digital misinformation, which she noted can particularly harm women. “The digital age has brought new challenges, with misinformation disproportionately affecting women,” she said, citing her own experiences.

Calling for a collective effort to tackle these challenges, Minister Rana stated, “We have paved the road, set the direction, and created momentum—though there are still obstacles ahead.” She urged for a clear action plan to sustain and expand these achievements.