Kathmandu, September 7
In coordination with the Ministry of Women, Children and Senior Citizens (MoWCSC) and relevant provincial and local authorities, the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) has launched the second phase of a project aimed at reducing gender-based violence and discrimination against women and girls in Province 1 and Sudurpaschim.
The UN agency launched the Gender-based Violence (GBV) Prevention and Response Project Phase II on Monday. The Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation SDC and the Norwegian Embassy in Kathmandu are supporting the project.
In a statement today, the UNFPA says the project will provide GBV survivors in 19 municipalities across eight districts in the two provinces with essential services that support their safety, health and access to justice.
“It will empower communities to challenge beliefs and practices that encourage GBV and support local and provincial governments in the project-supported locations and the federal government to promote policy reforms that will improve women’s empowerment,” the statement reads, “The project aims to reach almost 300,000 beneficiaries over the next four years.”
“Phase II of the project comes at a critical period in Nepal when the Covid-19 pandemic has worsened gender inequalities and GBV,” noted Yam Kumari Khatiwada, MoWCSC Secretary, on the occasion.
