Kathmandu: First Women Police Conference kicked off in Kathmandu on Wednesday, bringing together 200 women police personnel from across the country for a two-day discussion on inclusion, empowerment, and gender equality within the force.
Inaugurating the event, Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak said women now make up 12 percent of the Nepal Police, up from near zero before the country became a republic in 2006. He pledged to raise the figure to 20 percent in the near term, with a long-term target of 33 percent.
“The policy of inclusion has been central to building an inclusive society in the new republic,” Lekhak said, stressing the need to mainstream women’s participation across all state mechanisms. He also voiced concern over rising cases of rape and sexual violence, saying women and girls were disproportionately affected.
Supreme Court Justice Sapana Pradhan Malla praised women police for breaking stereotypes about their capabilities and called for their greater involvement in high-profile responsibilities, including VIP and VVIP security.
Attorney General Ramesh Badal said the conference should provide concrete recommendations to eliminate discriminatory provisions and empower women within the force, while Nepal Women Commission Chair Kamala Parajuli urged supportive laws and policies to encourage women to pursue policing careers.
Secretary at the Ministry of Women, Children, and Senior Citizens, Laxmi Kumari Basnet, assured government cooperation in tackling violence against women, girls, and senior citizens. Nepal Police AIG Rajan Adhikari said the participation of women from diverse backgrounds demonstrated progress in implementing inclusion.
The conference will feature 10 working papers and panel discussions on policing, health, financial literacy, and cyber security. It will conclude with the “Kathmandu Declaration,” outlining recommendations on constitutional provisions, laws, and gender policies of the Nepal Police.