Hetauda. October 10, 2023 Bagmati Province Civil Society Conference 2023 and 4th annual general meeting of NGO Federation of Nepal (NFN) Bagmati Province Committee, concluded on October 9, 2023. The event conducted at Hetauda, Bagmati Province was chaired by Ms. Arati Pathak, the President of NGO Federation Nepal Bagmati Province Committee, and had Hon. Bhuwan Kumar Pathak, the Speaker of the Provincial Assembly, as the chief guest. In his speech, Chief Guest Hon. Bhuwan Kumar Pathak raised a pressing issue - the lack of policy coherence and conflicting regulations concerning civil society. He stressed that such contradictions have led to misconceptions about the role of civil society and called for policy amendments to create a more conducive environment. Hon. Bharati Pathak, member of Parliament of Bagmati Province, highlighted the vital role of civil society at times of national crisis. She emphasized that a nation's prosperity highly depends on the unrestricted civic space and human rights, as well as the need for better coordination among the three tiers of government. Mr. Ram Prasad Subedi, President of NFN, expressed concerns about the increasing power of the government and private sector, leading to monopolies and higher prices of daily essentials. He emphasized on the importance of a strong civil society's presence to safeguard democracy and civic rights. The Civil Society Conference 2023 concluded with the issuance of a 13-point declaration that addressed critical issues. These points stressed on controlling the rising prices of daily essentials, finding solutions to the migration of labor abroad, promoting quality education, delivering citizen-friendly public services, establishing local food councils, and creating child-friendly care facilities. During the conference, thematic sessions were conducted to discuss Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) and Climate Action, Child Rights, and Food Sovereignty. These discussions provided valuable platforms for civil society representatives and stakeholders to exchange ideas and insights on these crucial topics. The Conference brought together a diverse array of voices to tackle pressing civil society concerns, and fostering unity and collaboration among civil society organizations, government representatives, and the private sector. The declaration of the conference is present below.
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