President Bhandari off to New York

Kathmandu, March 10 – President Bidya Devi Bhandari left for New York this evening leading a Nepali delegation to the 60th session of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (CSW).

During the visit, President Bhandari is scheduled address a high-level event entitled ‘Women in Power’ to be hosted by the President of UN General Assembly (PGA) Maria Fernanda Espinosa Garces on March 12 in New York, USA. The President will deliver her speech on the theme “How Women Leaders Change the World”.

In the evening of March 11, the President will attend a welcome dinner to be hosted by the PGA Garces in honour of the women Heads of State/Government.

On the side-lines of the high level event, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and President of the UN General Assembly Maria Fernanda Espinosa Garces will call on the President at the UN Secretariat.

The President will also hold bilateral meetings with the President of Estonia, Kersti Kaljulaid and the President of Croatia, Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic. On the same day, former Prime Minister of Ireland Mary Robinson will call on President Bhandari.

On the 13th of March, the President will visit Permanent Mission of Nepal to the UN. Ambassador of Nepal to the United States of America Dr. Arjun Kumar Karki and Permanent Representative of Nepal to the UN Amrit Bahadur Rai will jointly host reception in honour of the President.

The Nepali delegation comprises Tham Maya Thapa, Minister for Women, Children and Senior Citizen, Chairperson of the Women and Social Committee of the House of Representatives Niru Devi Pal, expert at the Office of the President Laxmi Kumari Karki, Foreign Secretary Shanker Das Bairagi, Secretary at the Office of the President Binod K.C., Secretary at the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies Yam Kumari Khatiwada and other senior officials from the Office of the President, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ministry of Women, Children and Senior Citizen of the Government of Nepal.

The President was seen off at the VVIP lounge of the Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) by the Vice-President, the Prime Minister, the Speaker, the National Assembly chairman, DPMs, Ministers among other high ranking officials.

President Bhandari is scheduled to return on March 14 and arrive in Kathmandu on March 15 afternoon.

Meanwhile, the President designated Vice-president Nanda Bahadur Pun to execute the duties in her absence. Prior to leaving for New York, the President designated the Vice-president to assume the duties of the President in her absence, as per Article 67 (2) of the Constitution, according to a statement issued by spokesperson of the Office of the President, Chhabindra Parajuli.