23 January 2023, Kathmandu, Nepal: The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) entered into a partnership today with the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) to support NHRC’s effort for promoting human rights, gender equality, sexual and reproductive health rights, and combating gender-based violence (GBV) and harmful practices.
Won Young Hong, Country Representative of UNFPA, and Murari Prashad Kharel, Secretary of NHRC signed the Memorandum of Understanding in the presecnce of Top Bahadur Magar, Hon. Chairperson of the National Human Rights Commission, Lily Thapa, Hon. Member of NHRC, and other officials of NHRC.
Speaking at the signing ceremony, Won Young Hong, UNFPA Resident Representative stated, “Nepal has made significant progress in formulating progressive laws and policies protecting women’s rights, including sexual and reproductive health and rights. Despite this progress, there has been inconsistency in the enforcement and implementation of these laws and policies. This is why we are pleased to partner with NHRC to ensure women’s rights and choices are upheld through the national development process”.
The new partnership will support the national protection systems to deliver on Nepal’s international obligations, including the Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) and the Universal Periodic Review (UPR), which are essential to the advancement of sexual and reproductive health and rights and preventing and effectively responding to violence against women and girls in Nepal.
Also addressing the gathering, Murari Kharel, Secretary of the Commission stated “The MOU between the NHRC and UNFPA reflects the mutual commitment of both organizations based on the strategic priorities and mandate of both institutions. This collaboration will be instrumental to strengthen NHRC’s institutional capacity to perform its mandate aligning with the NHRC strategy plan, to strengthen the effective human rights monitoring and reporting system on combating GBV and SRHR violations, eliminating gender-based violence, and therefore contributing to promoting human rights in Nepal.”
The partnership between UNFPA and NHRC will not only enhance the organization's commitment to protect and promote gender equality and sexual and reproductive health rights but also lead to concrete actions on advancing the realization of the International Conference on Population and Development agenda, and a strong foundation underpinning the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals.
**ENDS**
About UNFPA: UNFPA is the United Nations sexual and reproductive health agency. UNFPA’s mission is to deliver a world where every pregnancy is wanted, every childbirth is safe and every young person's potential is fulfilled.
About NHRC: The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) is a national human rights institution based on the Paris Principles. It is also considered an independent and autonomous constitutional entity under Article 248 of the Constitution of Nepal 2015. The constitution has given important significant mandates to NHRC to protect human rights as well as to strengthen the strong human rights protection system in Nepal.
