Bandana Rana grew up in Kathmandu, Nepal, in a regular middle-class family. Like many girls of her time, she didn’t have big ambitions. She loved Bollywood movies and dreamed of a happy life with her family. Her only goal was to make her parents proud. But life had other plans.
One day, as a teenager, she experienced something that would change her forever. Bandana got her first period, but her mother hadn’t prepared her for it. Instead of an explanation, Bandana was told to isolate herself in a dark room for 21 days. She wasn’t allowed to see her younger brothers or even go outside. She was told she was “impure.”
This experience sparked something inside her. Why was she, a girl, treated differently from her brothers? From that moment, Bandana couldn’t ignore the unfairness anymore.
Her journey to fight against gender discrimination had begun.
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Bandana completed her MA in English Literature from Tribhuvan University in 1983. She started teaching at her old school, enjoying reading and sharing stories with children. In the meantime, she got married and became a mother to two girls. But the feeling that women were being treated unfairly never left her.
Nepal Television, a new platform at the time, became her entry into media. As a young journalist, she faced criticism from all sides. People told her she wouldn’t succeed in this male-dominated field. But Bandana didn’t give up.
She proved them wrong.
In 1987, Bandana received a scholarship for a PG Diploma in News and Current Affairs from Radio Netherlands. There, a professor asked her to present her views in a class discussion. For the first time, someone valued her thoughts. This was a life-changing moment. She returned to Nepal, more confident and outspoken than ever before.
Bandana knew many women in Nepal were denied opportunities to realize their full potential. She decided to become their voice. Through her work as a journalist, she started advocating for women’s rights.
She even started Nepal’s first non-government shelter, Sathi, to support women facing violence. Bandana worked with various ministries to create policies that supported the welfare and rights of Nepali women. Her efforts didn’t stop there.
In 2017, Bandana was elected as a member of the United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW). She went on to become the first Nepali woman to chair this committee. Last month, she was re-elected for another term, gaining 146 votes from different countries in New York. Bandana will continue her work for women’s rights until 2028.
Bandana Rana’s story is a powerful reminder that change can come from anyone, anywhere. She took her personal experience and turned it into a global fight for gender equality. From Kathmandu to New York, her voice echoes the dreams and struggles of countless women around the world.
Bandana Rana is a Nepali women’s rights advocate who has dedicated her life to fighting gender discrimination. She is the first Nepali woman to chair the United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW).
Bandana’s personal experience of gender discrimination, especially during her teenage years, inspired her to fight for equality. The turning point was when she was forced into isolation during her first period.
Bandana started Nepal’s first non-government shelter for women suffering from violence. She has worked with ministries to promote women’s welfare and rights. She was elected as a member of CEDAW and even chaired the committee. Recently, she was re-elected for another term, receiving support from 146 countries.
The Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) is a United Nations body that focuses on protecting and promoting women’s rights globally.
Bandana will continue advocating for gender equality and women’s rights, using her platform at the United Nations to push for change until 2028.
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