9th International Conference successfully held in Nepal

Kathmandu, Nov 1 A two-day 9th International Conference “Global Peace through Emotional Intelligence Education (EQ/EI), Organization Management and Positive Psychology for Inner Peace, Business Success and A Better Life” held in Kathmandu on 25-26 October.

World Without Anger(WWA), Global Peace Foundation(GPF) Nepal and Co-organizer Samriddhi College Lokanthali, Bhaktapur jointly organized the conference having international partnership with EQ4Peace Worldwide Inc., USA and National Association Psychological Science (NAPS) India.

The overall theme of the conference was 'Creating a Peaceful World Society through Emotional Intelligence for a better life'.
Inaugurating the conference, Prof Dr Lekh Nath Sharma, Vice Chancellor, Nepal Open University and chief guest of the conference, expressed that practice of emotional Intelligence in daily life bring peace and harmony in individual and societies in general.

Distinguished speakers, including patron of World Without Anger, special guest Matt Perelstein and President of EQ4Peace Worldwide Inc. USA reminded the statement of emotional intelligence conference at the UN Headquarters in New York, which identified key strategies for using emotional intelligence to fuel the U.N. Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

They further expressed optimism that the WWA’s 9th International Conference will contribute to create a more peaceful world.

Likewise, Dr Ashis Sen, Chairman of Forum for Emotional Intelligence Learning, India as a guest speaker emphasized the importance of Neuroscience and emotional intelligence in the present day World.

Similarly, Prof Dr Shilu Manandhar Bajracharya, Dean, Faculty of Management and Law, Nepal Open University opined that the theme of the conference is relevant when the world economy has grown many hundred times during the last two or three centuries.

Prof Dr Murari Prasad Regmi, Chief Advisor to WWA viewed that life without anger model is helpful to control fit of anger, aggression and aversion.
Manohar K. Bhattarai, Chairperson of Sambriddhi Group highlighted the emotional literacy and emotional intelligence education.

Prof Dr Shishir Subba, former Assistant Dean, Humanities and Social Sciences stressed on anger management in modern societies.

On the occasion, WWA awarded the winner of the 4th “The Dean of International Peace Prize (DOIPP)”, 2019 to Prof. Dr. Arhan Sthapit. The award is given in honor of Dr. Dean Van Leuven ”The Dean of Peace". Person who has significantly contributed to the areas of emotional literacy, peace/positive psychology, psycho-social well being and people management.

The award includes a certificate, medal and Rs 25,000. The cash prize is sponsored by Gurkhas Finance Limited.
Also on the same occasion Chief Guest Prof Dr Sharma unveiled WWA International Journal Volume – 7, Series. (RSS)

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Combined efforts needed to fight VAW: Minister Thapa

Kathmandu, Nov 1(RSS): Minister for Women, Children and Senior Citizen Thamamaya Thapa has declared that individual efforts were not sufficient to combat violence against women (VAW).

Any effort to combat VAW would yield an expected result only if it was launched through coordination among the three-tier government and with the participation of local community, the minister asserted

In her address to an interaction on 'the role of stakeholders in the control of gender-based violence' jointly organised by the Kathmandu Metropolitan Police Range and Gender Violence Control Network and Protectors' Group Nepal, she shared the government preparation for studying the forms of violence existing in the country and place-specific violence as well.

She was of the view that anti-violence attempts with substantive plans would result in significant gains. But, the role of three level governments with different jurisdictions was equally crucial to achieve the results.

Thought, perception, and attitude are more important than laws to build a violence-free society, according to the minister.

Stating that the government this year launched a campaign against women violence, the minister said the government was preparing to celebrate a Day against Women Violence, Nepal from this year in commemoration of May 30, 2006 when the important proposal in the regard with the rights of women was endorsed by the parliament in Nepal.

Such rights include the 33 percent women participation in state apparatus, an end to gender-based violence and discrimination and mother's right to pass on the citizenship to offspring among others. "Such achievements are historic."

According to the women minister, a discussion programme against violence has been scheduled in all seven states from November 3 and it will continue until November 25.
Ranipokhari-based Metropolitan Police Office Chief, Deputy Inspector General of Police Shailesh Thapa Chhetri, said right sex education within the home would help to minimize the incidences of violence.

The cases of violence are on the rise every year and the Community Police Partnership Programme was launched to reduce crime with the help of the community. Under the programme, around 600 thousand people have been given training in a year, it is said.

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PM Oli leading Nepali delegation to NAM Summit

Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli will be leading the Nepali delegation to the 18th Summit of Heads of State and Government of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) being held in Baku, Republic of Azerbaijan from 25 to 26 of October 2019. Prime Minister Oli will leave Kathmandu for Baku on 24 October. He will be accompanied by his spouse Radhika Shakya.

The Nepali delegation includes Minister for Foreign Affairs Pradeep Kumar Gyawali, Chief Adviser to the Prime Minister Bishnu Rimal, Foreign Affairs Adviser to the Prime Minister Dr Rajan Bhattarai, Foreign Secretary Shanker Das Bairagi and senior officials at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
According to a press statement issued by the Foreign Ministry here today, the Prime Minister will address the general debate of the Summit on 26 of October. The General Debate of the 18th NAM Summit will be held on the theme of “Upholding the Bandung Principles to ensure concerted and adequate response to the challenges of contemporary world”.

The Prime Minister will attend the official dinner to be hosted by the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, in honour of the heads of delegation on 25 October 2019. Prime Minister Oli will also hold bilateral meetings with the Heads of Delegations of different countries on the side-lines of the Summit.
The 18th NAM Summit will be preceded by the Preparatory Ministerial Meeting on 23-24 October and Senior Officials Meeting on 21-22 October 2019. The Summit will consider the report of the Preparatory Ministerial Meeting, review the progress achieved in the implementation of the outcomes of the 17th Summit held in 2016, and conclude with the adoption of the Baku Declaration.

It may be noted that Nepal is a founding member of the Non-Aligned Movement and has been actively participating in all NAM Summits since its inception. Principles of non-alignment constitute one of the basic tenets of Nepal’s foreign policy.
The Prime Minister will return from Baku in the evening of 26 October and arrive Kathmandu in the morning of 27 October 2019, adds the statement.

Kaligandaki festival to stop diversion
A festival is being organised with the objective of saving the significance of Kaligandaki river to thereby stop its diversion. The festival is being organized in order to exert pressure on the sides concerned, in protest against the plan to divert the Kaligandaki river water to Tinau.
The Rambha rural municipality of Palpa is organising the festival on the occasion of Haribodhini Ekadashi festival to fall on November 8. The festival is being organised for the protection of Kaligandaki, highlighting the religious significance of Salikgram and protecting religion and culture, said the rural municipality Chair Bishnu Prasad Bhandari. A national bhajan competition will also be organised on the occasion.
The municipality has allocated Rs. 200,000 for the festival to be held in Uttarbahini area of ward no. 1 of. The plan is to divert the Kaligandaki from Ramdi on the border of Palpa and Syangja districts.
It may be noted that the federal government is presently working on a Detail Project Report to run the Kaligandai-Tinau Multi-purpose Diversion Project. However, the local governments are protesting against it. A struggle committee has also been formed representing the three districts to be affected by the project inclujding Palpa, Syangja and Tanahu.

Kaligandaki festival to stop diversion
A festival is being organised with the objective of saving the significance of Kaligandaki river to thereby stop its diversion. The festival is being organized in order to exert pressure on the sides concerned, in protest against the plan to divert the Kaligandaki river water to Tinau.
The Rambha rural municipality of Palpa is organising the festival on the occasion of Haribodhini Ekadashi festival to fall on November 8. The festival is being organised for the protection of Kaligandaki, highlighting the religious significance of Salikgram and protecting religion and culture, said the rural municipality Chair Bishnu Prasad Bhandari. A national bhajan competition will also be organised on the occasion.
The municipality has allocated Rs. 200,000 for the festival to be held in Uttarbahini area of ward no. 1 of. The plan is to divert the Kaligandaki from Ramdi on the border of Palpa and Syangja districts.
It may be noted that the federal government is presently working on a Detail Project Report to run the Kaligandai-Tinau Multi-purpose Diversion Project. However, the local governments are protesting against it. A struggle committee has also been formed representing the three districts to be affected by the project inclujding Palpa, Syangja and Tanahu.

President Bhandari leaving for Japan
Special Correspondent Shyam Rimal
President Bidya Devi Bhandari is leaving here for Japan this morning, upon completion of a five-day State visit of Myanmar at the friendly invitation of the President of Myanmar U Win Myint.
The Nepali delegation led by the President will fly via Bangkok, Thailand on a Thai Airways flight to reach Japan later tonight.
President Bhandari and the Nepali delegation will attend the coronation ceremony of Japanese Emperor Naruhito and return home on October 23.

President's Myanmar visit concludes
Special Correspondent Shyam Rimal
The five-day State visit of President Bidya Devi Bhandari to the Republic of the Union of Myanmar has concluded. At the friendly invitation of the President of Myanmar U Win Myint, President Bhandari had arrived here on October 16.
President Bhandari will leave here today for Japan for a three-day visit. She is accompanied by Foreign Minister Pradeep Kumar Gyawali, Foreign Secretary Shanker Das Bairagi, Secretary at the Office of the President Dr Hari Paudel, Chief Personal Secretary of the President Dr Bhesh Raj Adhikari and senior officials of the Office of the President and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The President's delegation is scheduled to attend the coronation ceremony of the Japanese Emperor to be held in Tokyo on October 22 and return home on the 23rd.

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UNFPA Executive Director in Nepal visit to accelerate ICPD promise

Kathmandu, Oct 20 (RSS): Executive Director of the United Nations Population Fund, UNFPA, Dr. Natalia Kanem, has arrived here on her first official visit in a bid to intensify the implementation of population and development promises.

It is her first visit since her appointment two years ago.This year, 2019, marks the 50th anniversary of UNFPA and the 25th anniversary of the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD), held in Cairo in 1994, where 179 governments, including Nepal, unanimously articulated a bold vision regarding the relationship between population development and individual rights and choices, with women and girls at the centre of the development agenda.

The landmark ICPD Programme of Action commits to universal access to sexual and reproductive health and reproductive rights for all, underpinned by women’s empowerment and gender equality within the broader framework of human rights, as a pathway to sustainable development, the UNFPA said.
The high-level two-day UNFPA visit is to recognize the significant achievements by Nepal in relation to the Cairo vision and the commitment of the government to its full implementation by 2030; and to invite the government at the highest level to participate in the Nairobi Summit on ICPD25, which will be held on 12-14 November, as a champion of reproductive rights.

Since the Cairo conference, access to sexual and reproductive health services including family planning and skilled birth attendants has significantly increased in Nepal. This has resulted in reducing preventable maternal mortality by more than half to 239 per 100,000 live births. However, the pace of progress has been slower in the last decade due to a persistently high level of unmet need for family planning services and one of the highest rates of child marriage resulting in early pregnancy and childbirth in the world, among other factors, it is said.

“Nepal has made such momentous strides under the ICPD Programme of Action in the past quarter century, amid formidable challenges,” noted Dr Kanem, “but now is the time to urgently address the unfinished business. The Rights to Safe Motherhood and Reproductive Act introduced last year is a remarkable piece of legislation that is forward- looking and will certainly help accelerate efforts to achieve the goals agreed to in Cairo, goals which will be reaffirmed and recommitted to in Nairobi next month as well”.
The Nairobi Summit on ICPD25: Accelerating the Promise, is being co-convened by the governments of Kenya and Denmark, along with UNFPA, and will bring together heads of state, ministers, parliamentarians, civil society organisations, young people, faith-based organizations, business and community leaders, and media partners to galvanize partnerships, mobilize political and financial support, and to help foster ideas and commitments to fully realize the ICPD vision and the SDGs by 2030.

While in Nepal, the UNFPA delegation will be meeting with senior government officials, development partners, CSOs and other key stakeholders as well as UNFPA staff.
“As we gear up for Nairobi, we’re gratified that Nepal and all our member states have recognised that without achieving ICPD we simply won’t achieve the SDGs that underpin the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda,” said Dr Kanem. “We thank Nepal for its valuable partnership and support in working with us towards our transformative results: Zero maternal deaths, zero unmet need for family planning and zero gender-based violence and other harmful practices such as child marriage. This is critical in fulfilling the vision of ICPD and the SDGs – that of leaving no one behind.”

Dr Kanem is accompanied by UNFPA Regional Director for Asia and the Pacific, Bjorn Andersson, and UNFPA Chief of Staff, Pio Smith, according to the UNFPA.

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