Kathmandu: Country is celebrating the 115th International Women’s Day today with various programs and events held across the country. This year’s theme, "For All Women and Girls: Rights, Equality, and Empowerment," emphasizes the ongoing struggle for gender equality and women’s rights.

The Ministry of Women, Children, and Senior Citizens is hosting a special function, while numerous women's organizations affiliated with political parties have also organized events to mark the occasion.

Nepal’s Progress in Women’s Rights and Representation
Women’s rights have been established as a fundamental right in Nepal’s Constitution, ensuring their proportional representation in political and administrative sectors. Currently, 34% of federal parliamentarians are women, alongside 36.5% representation in the provincial assemblies and 41.1% of elected officials at the local level. In addition, 28% of civil servants are women, reflecting growing participation in governance and public administration.

Leaders Advocate for Gender Equality
In his Women’s Day message, President Ram Chandra Poudel highlighted Nepal’s principle of proportional inclusion as a key factor in establishing women's leadership in political, social, economic, cultural, and educational sectors. He stressed the importance of equal access for women in education, healthcare, employment, and decision-making.

Similarly, Vice President Ram Sahay Prasad Yadav emphasized the need for awareness campaigns and continued efforts to empower women in all aspects of society. Speaker of the House Devraj Ghimire and National Assembly Chairperson Narayan Prasad Dahal also extended their best wishes, acknowledging the contributions of women to Nepal’s progress.

Focusing on Dignified Menstruation
The Imperial World School in Budhanilkantha organized a special event focusing on dignified menstruation as part of its Women’s Day celebrations. Students recited poems and delivered presentations highlighting the significance of gender equality and menstrual dignity.

Dr. Radha Paudel, a pioneer in menstrual dignity advocacy, addressed the event as the chief guest. She emphasized that true women’s empowerment cannot be achieved until menstrual discrimination is eliminated. She called for breaking societal taboos and stigma surrounding menstruation and advocated for including trans-men and queer issues in discussions about gender equality. Dr. Paudel also urged schools to incorporate menstrual education into their curriculum and promote awareness through visual messages on school walls.

Honoring Women’s Struggles and Achievements
During the celebrations, participants paid tribute to Clara Zetkin, the founder of International Women’s Day. They emphasized that recognizing women's struggles on a single day is not enough—continuous efforts are required to eliminate all forms of discrimination and ensure equal opportunities for women and girls in all spheres of life.

As Nepal continues to make significant strides in women’s rights and representation, the focus remains on strengthening gender equality, dismantling harmful practices, and ensuring meaningful empowerment for all women and girls.