The Day on March 9 was marked by the participation of more than 200 people from different organizations working on HIV&AIDS and women's rights issues. APACHA Nepal and Coalition against Gender Based Violence (CAGBV) organized the International Women’s Day - March 8 campaign in Nepal focusing on the intersection of Violence against Women (VAW) and HIV and AIDS. The event kick started with an opening remark from the Country Director of Action Aid Nepal.
Country Director of Actionaid Nepal, Dr. Shibesh Chandra Regmi givin his opening remark
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Mina Shrestha, one of the women living with HIV&AIDS and women's rights activists having her say!
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It was then followed by an anecdotal account from Mina Shrestha, a woman living with HIV and AIDS, who disclosed her status a month ago through media. She shared her moments of hardship when she knew she was living with HIV and of joys when she became public. She asked women to come forward and claim their rights rather than live in self-inflicted agony. She ended her testimony saying loud," Women Won’t Wait Now!”
Launching of book 'Intersection of VAW and HIV&AIDS' by State Minister for Women, Children
and Social Welfare Ms. Urmila Aryal
A Book on the ‘Intersection of VAW and HIV and AIDS’, was launched by the chief guest Ms. Urmila Aryal, the State Minister for Women Children and Social Welfare. This is a research done by AAN, Conscious Media Forum, the host organization of APACHA Nepal Chapter and Forum of Women, Law and Development (FWLD). APACHA took this opportunity to share the concept of the alliance and its importance followed by the sharing from CAGBV. There was a briefing on campaign objectives and campaign "demands" by Women’s Rights network.
Goma Rai, one of the leading women activists reading the Charter of Demand and announcing the launch of campaign across the country. Photo-APACHA Nepal
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Charter of demand
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A Charter of Demands was read loud by Goma Rai, an activist and a woman living with HIV&AIDS and the member of APACHA Nepal. This Charter was prepared on Feb 26, 2007 after a consultation meeting with more than 50 NGOs including HIV positive women activists, media persons, the national association of people living with HIV and AIDS and women’s network. This charter has strongly put forth the demands to address and implement the issues on the intersection between VAW and HIV and AIDS at all levels (policy, program, institutional-reforms, or Donors' levels). The attendants showed their solidarity by signing on the Charter.
MeghRaj Pokhrel, one of the renowned activists on HIV&AIDS and a lawyer (who represented APACHA, Nepal) jointly opening the Campaign launch Banner with the women rights activists representing (CAGVP)
It will be formally presented to the Deputy Prime Minister, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Women Children and Social Welfare and UNAIDS/Association of International NGOs. The program ended with a closing remark by a representative of Women living with HIV and AIDS network. This charter has been circulated across the country for wider sensitization and ownership adding more energy to the campaign.
There was huge media coverage in newspapers, F.M. Radios and T.V. channels
