Kathmandu, Oct 21: The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) Executive Director, Dr Natalia Kanem, has praised Nepal for its performance in the field of safe motherhood and reproductive health, family planning and women empowerment.
Dr Kanem, who is presently here on a two-day first official visit to Nepal was speaking at a press meet at the Pulchowk-based UNFPA Office.
"I believe we have a lot to learn from Nepal – what has been achieved in improving the lives of people in a relatively short period of time, despite formidable challenges, and the very strong commitment to accelerate progress on all fronts including in protecting the reproductive rights of women and girls, as articulated in the Constitution of Nepal and the Right to Safe Motherhood and Reproductive Health Act which was passed last year as a fundamental human right," she said.
It may be noted that the Constitution has guaranteed every citizen's right to free basic health services from the State, promising that no one shall be deprived of emergency health services. According to the constitution, every person shall have the right to get information about his or her medical treatment and every citizen shall have equal access to health services.
Similarly, the Article 38(2) has guaranteed that every woman shall have the right to safe motherhood and reproductive health.
In line with the above mentioned constitutional provisions, the government last year had issued the ' Safe Motherhood and Reproductive Rights Act-2075 BS'. The Act for the first time has established the right to safe motherhood and reproductive right as fundamental rights.
On the occasion, Dr Kanem announced the additional assistance on behalf of the UNFPA in Nepal's efforts for safe motherhood and reproductive health, for the promotion of family planning and in the elimination of violence against women in the days ahead, but did not reveal the amount to be increased.
These goals include reducing preventable maternal deaths, addressing unmet need for family planning services, ensuring girls’ rights to education and health, eliminating child marriage and other harmful practices, and ending gender-based violence.
Nepal has been getting continuous financial and technical support from the UNFPA since 1971 specifically in the areas of safe motherhood, sexual and reproductive health, family planning and empowerment of women and girls and these issues are at the core of UNFPA’s mandate and central to achieving the vision of the ICPD Programme of Action, as well as the Sustainable Development Goals, or SDGs.
The UNFPA had ensured optimum humanitarian support to women and adolescents affected by the 2015 April earthquake and last year's floods in the Tarai-Madhesh and this move was highly praised by the international community.
Dr Kanem went on to say that this year was truly special for UNFPA as it was celebrating its 50th anniversary and it was really a proud moment for it as it recognized the gains made over the last five decades in improving the lives and well-being of individuals and couples around the world.