Background:

Right to life is the inherent fundamental rights of each person guaranteed by birth.

The women, the half of the population, have got every right as human beings to demand for a dignified life from which they are deprived of. Women Rights issue is an issue of human rights. It has been globally realized that without the improvement of the quality of life of women, the fundamental change of society is not possible.

Realizing the fact, United Nations General Assembly passed the Convention on Elimination of all forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) in 1979 and its protocol in 2000 in order to protect women from any form of discriminations, on which Nepal is a party.

With the efforts by different agencies in the field of women rights, some positive changes have been achieved in the policy level. But to translate them in practice still remains a big challenge. Thus the women are lay behind in every sphere of the social life. There has been long felt need to have a permanent organized institution to consolidate the women''s rights movements in Nepal. In order to fulfill this need, National Women Commission was established on the eve of 92nd International Women''s Day (7th March 2002) for the protection, prevention and promotion of the women''s rights.

 Structural efforts for women rights in Nepal

 Civil Code 1910 BS is considered to be the first comprehensive compilation of laws and the code to speak about women. As the first constitution, Nepal Sarkarko Baidhanik Kanun (the legal laws of Nepali government) 2004 B.S, delivered as the fundamental civil rights to the people for the first time though it was in limited extend. Then after Baiyaktik Swatantrata Sambandhi Ain 2006 B.S. (Personal Freedom Act 2006 B.S), Antarim Sasan Bidhan 2007 B.S.(Interim Governance Law 2007 B.S.), Bandi Pratakshikaran Sambandhi Ain 2008 B.S. (Havious Corpus Act 2008B.S) and Nagarik Adhikar Ain 2012 B.S. (Civil Rights Act 2012 B.S.) etc have immensely contributed to institutionalize the civil rights. Constitution of Kingdom of Nepal 2015 B.S. and 2019 B.S. have guaranteed non discrimination and voting rights of women. The Interim Constitution 2063 B.S. has been considered as the milestone which has established the women rights as the fundamental rights , compatible to the international instruments.

Ratification of international instruments and participation in various forums prove that Nepal is committed for the rights of women. The 11th amendment of Civil Code was the first organizational efforts that Nepal made to be compatible with the CEDAW. Similarly Some Nepal Legal Act 2063 B.S., Citizenship Act 2063 B.S., Human Trafficking Control Act 2064 B.S. and its regulation 2065 B.S., Domestic Violence (Crime and Punishment) Act 2066 B.S.and issued Verdict and Guidelines by the Supreme Court in different occasions have contributed to institutionalize gender equality in Nepal which set the examples even in South Asia Region.

National Women Commission:

Women Commission Act 2063 and its Regulation 2065 have been introduced in order to promote and protect the rights of women and make sure their effective participation in mainstream national development.

The Commission has developed the five year strategic plan (2066/067-070/71) based on the role, responsibility and rights mentioned in the section 11 of the Act. The Strategy Plan is based on the core values (ie Gender Equality, Social Equity/Inclusiveness, Diversity, Participation, Independence and Autonomy, Integrity, Accessibility and Accountability) and the summarize version is given below.