Kathmandu — A Feminist Forum involving around 50 stakeholders from diverse social organizations has shaped key inputs for a Men’s Engagement Toolkit aimed at promoting gender justice and addressing child marriage and other harmful practices.
Participants working across gender equality, social justice and community development collectively contributed ideas to prepare the toolkit, which is expected to serve as a guiding document for policymakers and civil society organizations to mainstream men’s engagement in social transformation efforts.
The programme also featured a “Roots and Sprouts” session that promoted intergenerational dialogue between young and senior feminists. The session focused on connecting individual struggles with broader system strengthening, encouraging shared learning across generations.
The event was organized under the Security and Justice Programme, jointly implemented by People in Need, Divya Development Resource Center and Hami DajuVai, with financial support from the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO).
The workshops generated substantive inputs to further refine policy drafts at the local and provincial levels, particularly on strengthening accountability mechanisms for men in efforts to eliminate child marriage. Participation from queer communities ensured that diverse perspectives were meaningfully included in discussions on gender, justice and social norms.
A dedicated session on feminism and men’s engagement added depth to the dialogue, making the programme more interactive and reflective. The event concluded with closing remarks and a vote of thanks delivered by Kaustav Pokhrel, Chairperson of Hami DajuVai.
