International Women’s day March 8 th 2009 The women of Nepal Dianna T Kenny Presentation to V.I.E.W. to celebrate to celebrate

International Women’s day – fighting for women’s rights ,000 women marched through New York City demanding shorter hours, better pay and the right to vote Declaration by the Socialist Party of America of the first National Woman's Day (NWD) in the USA International Conference of Working Women in Copenhagen implemented International Women's Day ,000,000 men and women in Austria, Denmark, Germany and Switzerland attended IWD rallies campaigning for women's rights to work, vote, be trained, to hold public office, end discrimination and improve working conditions Bread and RosesBread and Roses campaign (textile strike in USA)

IWD around the world IWD is now an official holiday in China Armenia Russia Azerbaijan Belarus Bulgaria Kazakhstan Kyrgyzstan Macedonia Moldova Mongolia Tajikistan Ukraine Uzbekistan Vietnam On this day men honour their mothers, wives, girlfriends, colleagues, daughters with flowers and small gifts. In some countries IWD has the equivalent status of Mother's Day where children give small presents to their mothers and grandmothers.

2009 Theme for IWD Women and Men: United to End Violence against Women

United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon “Changing mindsets and the habits of generations is not easy. It must involve all of us – individuals, organizations and governments. We must work together to state loud and clear, at the highest level, that violence against women will not be tolerated, in any form, in any context, in any circumstance... We need economic and social policies that support women's empowerment. We need programs and budgets that promote non-violence."

IWD in the developing world Women in the developing world have many diverse needs that western women often cannot imagine. These include: –Health care –Antenatal and postnatal support –Clean water –Sanitation –Relief from hunger and poverty –Warm shelter –Cessation of female genital mutilation in Muslim countries –Legal rights in the case of domestic violence, desertion or divorce

Women in Nepal Don’t know about International Women’s Day IWD is not celebrated in Nepal BUT Women play a vital role in Nepal

NEPAL Nepal is a country characterized by –persistent poverty –slow economic growth –poor political leadership, although this is improving –a lack of basic infrastructure to support development in health, welfare, and education

Basic Indicators Total Population: 23 million %Population under 18: 40% Annual no. of births: 812,000 GNI per Capita:USD $220

Nutrition Infants with low birth weight: 21% Children who are: Underweight -moderate 35% -severe12% Stunting moderate and severe54% Wasting -moderate and severe 7%

Health Access to sanitation – 28% Three out of four school aged children in Nepal are infected with parasites: hookworm round worm whipworm Diarrhea, dysentery, skin and eye infections and acute respiratory infections (ARI) due to poor hygiene.

Mortality is a women’s issue Infant mortality rate: 72 per 1,000 live births (Australia’s rate is 7 per 1,000) Under 5 mortality rate: 100 per 1,000 live births (10% children <5 years die) –28,000 children die of diarrhoea annually Maternal Mortality Ratio: 540 per 100,000 live births

EducationMaleFemale Adult Literacy Rate5924 Primary School Enrolment Ratio 7960 Secondary School Enrolment Ratio 4925 Education is a women’s issue

Barriers to education Delayed entry into school Repeated grades Poor attendance High dropout Poverty Opportunity cost of education Gender bias in educational opportunity Caste/social status bias Geographical variation in access to schools

Participatory Community Action for Education and Welfare in Nepal Sunrise Education Foundation Co-founders – Dianna with Hari Thapa

AIM: TO ACHIEVE QUALITY EDUCATION FOR ALL CHILDREN IN NEPAL Education awareness programs School infrastructure School attendance allowance

Nepal’s future The young women who will lead change Basudha Bhawana Radha

The remarkable women of Nepal Sanisara, mother of 8, village advocate for education, entrepreneur

This 8 year old girl was so determined to come to school, she was prepared to bring her baby sister strapped to their back, as there was no-one else to care for her.

Our foundation supported the school attendance of young women who had never had an opportunity to come to school. They were prepared to take their lessons with much younger children

Amma, a very special woman Young women sponsored by the Sunrise Education Foundation A young mother with her infant, who is studying at college

School for the Blind, Charikot Inspirational teacher of the blind

The Buddhists of Lalitpur – a very special community

During the civil war, it was not easy to gain access to outlying schools because of Maoist road blocks and checkpoints Women endure life in cold and barren environments, but still find time to support their village school

Making the most of very little

HOPE FOR THE WOMEN OF NEPAL IN THEIR NEW GENERATION OF YOUNG WOMEN