Mountain Spirit organized a one-day national awareness program on the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women’s General Recommendation 39 (CEDAW GR-39) for women leaders and activists representing Indigenous Peoples (IPs)-led organizations and agencies. The event was held at Delish Opera Restro and Banquet, Maharajgunj, Kathmandu, on June 29, 2025. A total of 49 women and 8 men from diverse indigenous cultural backgrounds and associations across Nepal actively participated to gain an understanding of the provisions of CEDAW GR-39 and its importance for indigenous women in Nepal. The program was supported by the International Indigenous Women’s Forum (IIWF-FIMI) under the “Empowered Grant.” The event was structured into two main events. The first event focused on highlighting key provisions and rights of Indigenous women outlined in CEDAW GR-39, and explored how issues such as climate change, natural resource management, gender, and intersectionality intersect with women’s rights, self-determination, and livelihoods. This session was enriched by field experiences of Mountain Spirit in Udayapur. The second event began with remarks from esteemed guests and their commitment to advancing the rights of Indigenous women at the policy, program, and community levels.
