"Girls in Nepal suffer from gender discrimination from birth onwards. Fewer girls than boys

survive to reach adulthood. Fewer girls are in full-time education, and literacy rates for

women are significantly lower than for men. Employment opportunities for girls are

significantly worse than for boys. Women are hugely under-represented in all spheres of

public life, including politics. Poverty, social exclusion and poor governance all impact on

females to a greater extent than on males. Organisations such as SOS Bahini and Asha-

Nepal are helping to protect girls and women from exploitation, to give them a fresh start in

life and to empower them."

Dr Andrew Hall, British Ambassador to Nepal

Gender equality is not only morally right, it is pivotal to human progress

and sustainable development. Gender equality will not only empower

women to overcome poverty, but also their children, families,

communities and countries. Healthy, educated and empowered

women have healthy, educated and confident daughters and sons. The

amount of influence that women have over decisions in the household

has been shown to positively impact the nutrition, health care and

education of their children. By upholding women’s rights, societies

also protect girl children and female adolescents. Without gender

equality, it will be impossible to create a world of equality, tolerance

and shared responsibility – a world that is fit for children.

UNICEF - The State of the World’s Children, 2007