KATHMANDU: The Family Welfare Division (FWD) of the Ministry of Health and Population is organising a High-Level Policy Dialogue on 18 December to determine priority actions to drive progress in realising the sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) of women and girls, with a focus on closing the gap for some of the most marginalized and vulnerable groups in Nepal.
Discussions at the dialogue, informed by a provincial-level dialogue that took place in all seven provinces on 16 December, will focus on barriers that continue to impact on women’s and girls’ ability to exercise their reproductive rights in Nepal. Both dialogues will draw on the 2018 Guttmacher-Lancet Commission report, which offers a comprehensive approach to sexual and reproductive health and rights, in line with the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) vision.
Key actions to address systemic and socio-cultural challenges – which include a lack of accessible sexual and reproductive health services and skilled human resources, a weak supply chain, and persistent discriminatory gender norms that prevent women and girls from utilising services even when they are available – will be identified at the dialogue to accelerate Nepal’s progress towards national and global development aspirations.
The Government of Nepal is committed to realizing rights and choices for all as evidenced by Nepal’s Safe Motherhood and Reproductive Health Rights Act 2018; its commitment to fully implement the ICPD Programme of Action at the Nairobi Summit last year; and its commitment to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals. Notwithstanding these commitments, however, progress in Nepal has been uneven and many women and girls in remote areas and from marginalized groups are unable to exercise their choice over their bodies, their lives and their futures. Around 1,200 women die every year during pregnancy and childbirth and nearly one in three rural women who want to delay or postpone pregnancy are not using a modern method of contraceptive – this figure is significantly higher in hard-to-reach populations in Nepal. FWD Director Dr. Tara Nath Pokhrel said: “Comprehensive sexual and reproductive health rights must be ensured for all. This is not just essential for the well-being of women and girls, but will transform society and the country and is a prerequisite to accelerating sustainable and inclusive development in Nepal.”
The FWD will also hold a Family Planning Conclave on the 23 December to identify and scale up good practices in Nepal and to secure commitment to expand the family planning programme to reach undeserved groups, with a clear roadmap for the way forward despite the challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic. The FWD is organising the Policy Dialogue and Family Planning Conclave with support from UKaid, UNFPA and ADRA.
The Dialogue takes place as Nepal – and the global community – continues to battle the COVID-19 pandemic, which has the potential to exacerbate existing inequities and derail progress towards national and global targets to reach universal access to sexual and reproductive health services. Ms. Lubna Baqi, UNFPA Representative in Nepal, said: “We have a chance to address the inequalities, discrimination and exclusion through meaningful dialogue, strong leadership and firm commitments. This is an opportunity to aim for universal coverage that upholds the fundamental rights, well-being and dignity of all women and girls in Nepal.”
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For more information:
Kabita Aryal
Chief, Family Planning and Reproductive Health Section, Family Welfare Division
bitak006@gmail.com/9851227991
