KATHMANDU, OCTOBER 6The 17th Zonta International District 25 Annual Conference is taking place in Kathmandu from October 6-8. India cruises to 10-wicket win over Sri Lanka in Asia Cup final Ben Stokes hits 182 for highest ODI score by an England player to set up huge win over New Zealand This marks the first time the conference will be held in Kathmandu, bringing together over 150 participants from Bangladesh, India, Nepal, New Zealand, and Sri Lanka.According to the statement issued by Zonta, the theme of Conference is Embracing Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. "We have two workshops in our programme-Workshop 1 Diversity, Equity and Inclusion and Workshop 2 Gender-Equal Climate Action.

With the alarming and heartbreaking events of this year-from devastating flash floods and storms to record breaking heatwaves-it is clear that we cannot achieve the aims of Workshop 1 without the actions of Workshop 2.

These workshops are an opportunity for each Zontian to share experiences, opinions and suggestions.

There are many ways we can make a difference, to make a start.

For instance, during this conference, our meetings may not be totally green.

But there will be no plastic bottles, our newsletter is an electronic one and you will find a significant use of jute products.

So, Zontians, please: Ask questions.

Make suggestions.

Help form strategies and programmes to take our vision forward." Surendra Raj Acharya, Minister for Women, Children, and Senior Citizens; Sunita Dangol, Deputy Mayor of Kathmandu Metropolitan City; and Souella M.

Cumming, Treasurer/Secretary for 2022 – 2024 at Zonta International and Zonta Foundation for Women, among others, are scheduled to attend and speak at the inaugural session.

Keynote speaker Bharati Silwal Giri, Former Assistant Resident Representative of UNDP Nepal, will address the intersection of gender inequality and climate change, the statement said.The conference will promote the exchange of ideas to empower women and girls and address gender-based violence and climate change's impact on women.

This Biennium our District was awarded two of the scholarships.

The Young Women Public Affairs Award to Yumna Zaheed, a candidate from Sri Lanka; and The Jane M Klausman Women in Business Scholarship to Swikritee Neupane, a candidate from Nepal.

These awardees will speak to us during the conference, the statement reads. Shreejana Rana, in her role as Governor of Zonta Club District 25, which includes Bangladesh, India, Nepal, and Sri Lanka, is leading the organization of the conference.

Notably, Rana holds the distinction of being the first Nepali to hold such a position within Zonta International, a global organization comprised of women from diverse backgrounds dedicated to women's empowerment.The event is being hosted by Zonta Club Kathmandu and Zonta Club Pokhara. Founded in 1919, Zonta International is a leading global organization of professionals, with more than 30,000 members belonging to more than 1,200 Zonta Clubs in 67 countries and geographic areas.

Zonta International envisions a world in which women's rights are recognized as human rights and every woman is able to achieve her full potential.

Zonta International District 25 comprises of four countries – Nepal, Bangladesh, India and Sri Lanka.

There are 15 Zonta Clubs in District 25, with close to 500 influential members from various professional backgrounds devoted to build a better future for women and girls in their communities through various projects and initiatives.Zonta Club of Kathmandu and Pokhara have close to 100 members in total from diverse backgrounds – social activists, bankers, entrepreneurs, doctors, lawyers, architects, business leaders and professionals. .

This article first appeared/also appeared in https://thehimalayantimes.com