Binda Pandey Nepalese social and political activist Date of Birth: 30.12.1966 Country: Nepal

1. Early Life and Education
2. Political and Social Activism
3. National Commission on Women (NWC) and Constituent Assembly
4. Parliament and International Involvement
5. Literary Contributions

Early Life and Education

Binda Pandey, a prominent Nepali politician and activist, was born in Rawalswar, Nuwakot, and is the penultimate child among twelve. While her brothers were sent to the traditional Hindu religious school Gurukul, she pursued a secular education. Pandey holds two Bachelor's degrees in Education and Law, as well as two Master's degrees in Botany and Gender Studies and Development Studies. She completed her doctorate from the Kathmandu University School of Education in 2017.

Political and Social Activism

Pandey's political journey began as a student, when she participated in a rally against the autocratic Panchayat regime on March 27, 1981. Her brother's arrest by the government sparked her activism. She became involved in the student movement and was elected treasurer of the All Nepal National Free Students' Union (ANNFSU) in 1981.

In 1992, Pandey joined the All Nepal Women's Association (ANWA), affiliated with the Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist-Leninist). She was elected treasurer of ANWA in November of the same year. Pandey's role expanded to organizing working women through the Central Women Workers' Department (CWWD) of the General Federation of Nepalese Trade Unions (GEFONT). She became the secretary of CWWD until 2000.

Pandey also represented GEFONT in the Committee of Asian Women (CAW), advocating for the rights of female workers in Asia. She served as the CAW program coordinator in Hong Kong from 1994 to 1997. Upon her return, she continued her work as CWWD secretary and assumed additional responsibilities as GEFONT's foreign affairs secretary and education department member. In 2000, she was elected head of GEFONT's education department.

National Commission on Women (NWC) and Constituent Assembly

From 2002 to 2004, Pandey served as a member of the National Commission on Women (NWC). Her work focused on developing policy recommendations for women's rights, including a gender analysis of the constitution.

After the end of the civil war and the fall of the monarchy, Pandey was elected to the Constituent Assembly (Constitutional Assembly) on the proportional representation list of the CPN (UML). During her tenure, she advocated for women's issues but faced challenges in convincing fellow members of parliament. However, she vowed to continue her fight for a gender-inclusive constitution.

Parliament and International Involvement

In 2017, Pandey was again elected to parliament through the proportional representation list of the CPN (UML). She served in the House of Representatives of the Federal Parliament of Nepal.

Pandey has been a deputy member of the Governing Body of the International Labour Organization (ILO) since 2011, serving three terms. She was also elected to the CPN (UML) Central Committee in 2009 and its Politburo in 2014.

Literary Contributions

In 2019, Pandey published a book titled "Women in Nepali Politics," highlighting the experiences and challenges faced by women in politics.