On 22 February, the Asian Population and Development Association (APDA) and the Asian Forum of Parliamentarians on Population and Development (AFPPD), in collaboration with the National Forum of Parliamentarians for Population and Development of Nepal (NFPPD), organized a parliamentary workshop in Kathmandu, Nepal, to promote and strengthen the activities of parliamentarian related to population and development issues in the country. This parliamentary workshop aimed to review the progress of the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) agenda, identify key legal and policy priorities to advance these goals and agenda, particularly in response to changing population trends, and expand the pool of champion parliamentarians who have sufficient knowledge to support the ICPD agenda. A total of 62 participants attended, including parliamentarians, government officials, experts, and representatives of UNFPA and civil society organizations.

During the sessions, it was noted that Nepal’s reproductive health (RH) policy has improved by shifting from a population control focus to a rights-based framework. The Interim Constitution of 2007, which officially recognized reproductive rights as fundamental human rights, marked a significant milestone. However, concerns remain as the country’s maternal mortality rate (MMR) continues to be high, and despite laws criminalizing child marriage, weak enforcement allows the practice to persist. To address these challenges, the importance of coordinated efforts across all three (federal, provincial, and local) levels of government for effective service delivery and investment in education, healthcare, and skill development to maximize human potential was emphasized. It was recommended that parliamentarians play an important role in strengthening demographic data collection to guide long-term population strategies, working on legislative reforms to address gaps in SRHR, child marriage laws and RH policy, ensuring adequate funding for programmes for SRHR and gender equality, and promoting parliamentary oversight and accountability.

This programme was supported by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and the Japan Trust Fund (JTF), in collaboration with the International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF).