Youths call to increase women's representation to 50%

Kathmandu, May 9

A call has been made for the government to increase women’s representation to 50 per cent.

Speaking at an interaction programme on “Future Strategic Priorities for Promoting Gender Equality and Ending Gender-Based Violence”, organised by Sancharika Samuha Nepal with support from the United Nations Population Fund in Kathmandu on Friday, youth leaders urged the government to set a global example by increasing women’s representation.

Bandana Rana, a member of the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women, said that Nepal’s Gen-Z movement has drawn global attention. “In other countries, Gen-Z movements failed. But in Nepal, it not only succeeded, but it also overthrew the government and assumed leadership itself. Such strong leadership should increase women’s representation from 33 per cent to 50 per cent,” she said.

Rana emphasised that at a time when violence against women has shifted into digital spaces, journalists, lawyers and civil society must play a key role in regulating social media.

Likewise, Advocate Sabin Shrestha, Chairperson of the Forum for Women, Law and Development, stated that gender-based violence discussions must place greater emphasis on sexual and reproductive health issues.

He said that women are often used by the state whenever there is a need to increase or reduce the population.

“How many children a woman chooses to have should be her own decision. But it appears that the government itself imposes various policies and regulations on women depending on whether population growth is desired or not. The state itself is committing violence against women,” said Shrestha.

According to data from the Nepal Police, 91 per cent of violence is committed by people known to the victim. Based on overall incidents of violence in Nepal, 29 per cent are cases of gender-based violence.

Shrestha also informed that surrogacy is still being carried out secretly in Nepal, which, he argued, represents interference by others in women’s reproductive rights. Likewise, he called for addressing legal complexities surrounding live-in relationships, stating that women in such relationships are often subjected to severe exploitation.

Similarly, senior advocate Mira Dhungana complained that although Nepal has enacted many laws for women, victims still lack access to justice. She said that because of the complexity of the law, many women cannot even approach the courts. Victims are often unable even to file complaints with the police. Even in serious crimes, women are forced into reconciliation. All of this stems from a lack of legal literacy.

Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 10 May 2026.