The Zonta Club of Kathmandu, in collaboration with the Ncell Foundation and Saathi, held the closing ceremony of this year's 16 Days of Activism UNITE Campaign against gender-based violence on Tuesday at St Mary’s Secondary School in Jawlakhel.

The event featured a panel discussion titled ‘Addressing the Interconnected Challenges of Gender Inequality, Climate Change, and Violence Against Women’ and was attended by distinguished guests, including Manjali Shakya Bajracharya, deputy mayor of Lalitpur Metropolitan City; Phul Kumari Paudel, assistant general of police, Armed Police Force; and representatives from Ncell Foundation, Saathi, UNICEF, UNFPA, UNESCO, ICIMOD, Sisters of St Mary's, and Zonta International District 25.

Bina Rana, president of the Zonta Club Kathmandu, emphasised the urgency of collective action against gender-based violence, child marriage, and their links to climate change. Rana highlighted the success of the 16 Days of Activism campaign, noting that the Orange the School initiative, supported by Ncell Foundation and Saathi, reached over 1,700 students across 12 schools, raising awareness on gender-based violence, child marriage, and cyber safety.

The panel, moderated by Soni Joshi, Chair of the District 25 Committee of Zonta International-encompassing Nepal, India, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh-featured notable experts, including Amun Thapa, CEO of Khaalisisi; Sulakshana Rana from Saathi; Ms Mandira Shrestha of ICIMOD; Ms Juhi Adhikari from UNESCO; and Ms Bishakha Lakshmi Khadka of Ncell Foundation. The discussion highlighted strategies and solutions to address gender inequality and combat the impacts of climate change, engaging the audience in a Q&A session.

“We are grateful to our supporters, including UNICEF, QFX Cinemas, the principals of 12 schools participating in the ‘Orange the Schools’ programme, and the advocates who contributed to compiling the information booklet Legal Provisions Related to Child Marriage, Domestic Violence & Women's Rights," said Shreeyukta Thapaliya, chair of Zonta's Violence Against Women Committee. She added that an art competition was held during the campaign, with five winners recognised for their artwork on combating gender-based violence.