Kathmandu, Nov 25: Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba has said the government is committed to the competency development of women economically, socially and politically by developing the gender-responsive rule of law.    

While inaugurating the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence amidst a programme organised by the Ministry of Women, Children and Senior Citizens here today, the Prime Minister spoke about the need for a national awareness campaign against all sorts of violence against girls and women. He expressed his hope that the Activism would prove a milestone in combating violence against women.    

As the Prime Minister explained on the occasion, the National Women’s Commission functions as the constitutional body to ensure easy access of women surviving violence to justice.    

The head of the government said, “We have ensured constitutional, policy-level and legal rights to build a gender-equal society, equal right to lineage, right to safe motherhood and reproductive health of every woman have been guaranteed constitutionally.”    

He utilised the forum to vow for the effective implementation of policies and programmes aims to end all sports of discrimination, violence and exploration against women.    

He stressed the need for all to unite to end such existing social structural thoughts and norms and values reinforce gender-based violence (GBV) and discrimination.    

He urged the federal, provincial and local government, non-governmental organisations, private sector, media persons and campaigners to launch awareness campaigns so as to end problems facing women as a result of social backwardness, superstition and social evils.    

Similarly, Minister for Women, Children and Senior Citizens, Uma Regmi, asked all authorities concerned to launch awareness campaigns against GBV and launch rescue, relief, rehabilitation and psychological counseling programmes for the survivors.    

The 16 Days Activism against Gender-Based Violence, an annual global campaign, is organised from November 25 to December 10. The Government of Nepal has decided to observe November 25 as the national day against violence against women.    

The global campaign kicked off Wednesday with the theme of “Orange the World: End Violence Against Women Now!” while the national theme is “Let’s start from home, end violence against women”.