Kathmandu- A discussion program focusing on women and girls’ access to justice and sexual and reproductive health in Nepal was held as part of the 70th session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) in New York City on March 10, 2026.

Speaking as the chief guest, Minister for Ministry of Women, Children and Senior Citizens Shraddha Shrestha said that although Nepal has enacted numerous legal provisions to protect the rights of women and girls, more efforts are still needed to effectively implement those provisions in practice. She stressed that particular attention must be given to safeguarding the rights and ensuring access for women and girls with disabilities and those from marginalized communities during implementation.

At the panel discussion chaired by Krishna Waiba, Executive Director and Advocate Sabin Shrestha from Forum for Women, Law and Development (FWLD) shared that the organization has been running legal aid programs to enhance access to justice for women and girls with disabilities as well as to promote reproductive health rights. He also highlighted the need for disability-friendly and accessible judicial guidelines to ensure equal access to justice.

The program was moderated by Machhe Gurung. On the occasion, Advocate Rutu Thapa spoke about access to justice for indigenous women, while Pabitra Sunar presented a “Call for Action.”

The event was attended by Secretary of the Ministry of Women, Children and Senior Citizens Radhika Aryal, Joint Secretary Abha Shrestha, and Second Secretary Sunita Lakandri from Permanent Mission of Nepal to the United Nations in New York, among others.