Kathmandu, Nepal – September 5, 2024 — The Deputy Ombudsman for Human Rights, Maria Marilia da Costa, participated in the International Conference on Gender Inclusion in National Human Rights Institutions (NHRIs), held from September 3-5, 2024, in Kathmandu, Nepal. The conference, organized by the National Human Rights Commission of Nepal (NHRCN) in collaboration with the Asia Pacific Forum of National Human Rights Institutions (APF) and the Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions (GANHRI), was a significant event aimed at advancing gender equality within NHRIs and addressing critical challenges affecting women and girls.
The conference focused on evaluating how NHRIs can strengthen their compliance with the Paris Principles by incorporating gender inclusion into their structures and operations. It also reviewed the progress made since the Amman Declaration, which called for gender balance within NHRIs and highlighted barriers to achieving gender equality.
On September 4, the conference featured a notable panel discussion on “Integrating Gender Perspectives in Policy and Legislative Review by NHRIs.” This session, chaired by Justice Anand Mohan Bhattarai, Former Justice of the Supreme Court of Nepal, and facilitated by Jerald Joseph, Former Commissioner of SUHAKAM, explored how NHRIs can embed gender perspectives into their policy and legislative frameworks. Deputy Ombudsman Maria Marilia da Costa was a distinguished panelist, contributing her insights on the role of NHRIs in ensuring gender-sensitive reviews and legislation.
The panel also included: Vijaya Bharathi Sayani, Acting Chairperson of the National Human Rights Commission of India, Hari Kurniawan, Commissioner of the Indonesian National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM), Erica Powell, Acting Director of the Sex Discrimination Team, Australian Human Rights Commission
The discussions emphasized the importance of integrating gender perspectives into NHRI functions and the need for continuous efforts to address systemic barriers and emerging global challenges. The conference concluded with the adoption of a Kathmandu Declaration, which will serve as a roadmap for advancing gender mainstreaming strategies within NHRIs.
For more information on the conference and ongoing initiatives, visit: https://www.genderconference.nhrcnepal.org/?fbclid=IwY2xjawFHUApleHRuA2FlbQIxMAABHT6k68ZBr_i6eUsJNQvILUMbXVuJoS__AUwhiacr0O1nn9T9H7gOv-54zQ_aem_rZ-miGIdvmeRVyngrLU9_A
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