Kalapathhar- Women's Day has been celebrated at the base camp of Mount Everest, the world's highest peak, as the 114th International Women's Day was observed. The Mount Everest Basecamp conference was convened on Friday, with the participation of renowned women from diverse fields and organizations.
During the conference, a manifesto comprising seven points for climate justice was issued. The manifesto aimed to draw attention to the impacts of climate change on Mount Everest, and other Himalayan regions, including the Khumbu region. It emphasized the need for increased cooperation with national and international organizations to address the challenges posed by climate change to women's lives across Nepal, particularly in the Khumbu region. Key points included initiating local-level actions, ensuring women's participation, promoting tourism in various Himalayan locales, managing escalating waste accumulation around the Himalayas, advocating for the use of reusable products, and fostering awareness among stakeholders and the public.
The manifesto underscored the importance of collaboration among all Nepalis, irrespective of their residence in the Himalayas, Mountains, Terai, or abroad, to tackle climate change challenges. It emphasized the critical role of women and various societal segments, including those at the Mount Everest Basecamp, in achieving climate justice. Prajeeta Karki, the chairperson of Sathsathai, stressed the urgency of addressing climate change, noting its disproportionate impact on women and children, and called for global cooperation to mitigate its effects.
Renu Devi Shah, a member of the Madhesi Commission, urged collective action to mitigate the impact of climate change on the Himalayas while emphasizing the significance of addressing the challenges faced by the Madhes region. Climate change's adverse effects on Madhes's agricultural systems and women's livelihoods were highlighted, underlining the interconnectedness of the Himalayas, Mountains, and Terai in disaster mitigation efforts.
At the conference, Rojina Pradhan Rai, Vice President of the Non Resident Nepali Association, educationist Durga Bhattarai, Miss Nepal Shrichcha Pradhan, Founding President of Mitini Nepal Lakshmi Ghalan, and Dr. Rashila Pradhan, a representative of the Nepal Medical Association, discussed the gender-specific impacts of climate change. Additionally, a group of 19 women leaders from various legislative bodies and distinguished personalities who had reached the Mount Everest Basecamp pledged to initiate nature-friendly practices as a first step towards climate justice. -Suvas Darnal/Rss
