VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN
In Nepal, women
issues have been talked so much nowadays. The women issues have been not talked
so much before. It was not even highlighted or given importance that much
before. Although, women issues are talked, they are not done in the process of
work. More than that, there are laws, they are not even implemented. Still
women are backward such as socio-economic, politics and violence against women.
When we see on
these three factors, there has been improvement in the economic and politics in
somehow. Women have started working outside and we can see women members in the
parliament. Although, the involvement is less in economics and politics, there
has been change on it but how about crime against women. The more development
in the country, there is more crime against women.
Furthurmore, if we see,
the society we live in is deep-rooted in patriarchy. The patriarchal
thinking and denial of rights and freedom has led to the subjugation of
women in almost all the spheres of society. Women are confined to their
traditional roles and are expected to behave in a way considered correct or
appropriate by the society. The increase in violence against women and girls
(VAWG), and persecution of women human rights defenders and victims of human
rights violations remains pervasive throughout the world. Many of our members
live in politically challenged environments, putting them at risk and are
experiencing restrictions on freedom of movement, arbitrary detention, threats
to their lives, intimidation and harassment for breaking the silence and
speaking out against violations of women and their human rights as well as
detriment to their health and well-being.
VAWG is any act of
gender-based violence that results in, or is likely to result in, physical,
sexual or mental harm or suffering to women, including threats of such acts,
coercion or arbitrary deprivation of liberty, whether occurring in public or in
private life. There are many forms of violence against women, including sexual,
physical, or emotional abuse by an intimate partner; physical or sexual
abuse by family members or others; sexual harassment and abuse by authority
figures (such as teachers, police officers or employers); trafficking for
forced labor or sex; and such traditional practices as forced or child
marriages, dowry-related violence; and honor killings, when women are murdered
in the name of family honor. Systematic sexual abuse in conflict situations is
another form of violence against women. Therefore, violence against women is a
violation of women’s rights. It is increasing at an alarming rate. There are
several reports on incidences of violence against women including suicide and
the murder and different cases of violence remain unnoticed. These violence
cases are unheard. There is no social support mechanism for the survivors from
the government. Gender based victimization is responsible for one out of every
five healthy days of life lost to women of reproductive age. The disability
adjusted life years per million for rape and violence and its outcome are 9.5,
contributing the global burden of the disease. As a result, the situation
forces women to live under abusive situation and face physical violence. The
harrowing effects of VAWG range from bruises to suicide or suicidal attempt.
The roots of VAW lie in persistent discrimination against women. In Nepali
society, semi-feudal and patriarchal structure, superstitions and illiteracy
among women, as well as poverty and marginalization of women are the factors
accelerating the cases of VAW at large. At the same time, impunity in the state
and weak enforcement of law are also responsible for VAW.
According to the
data collected by WOREC from January to December 2014, there were 2225 cases of
violence against women. Out of this, the cases of domestic violence accounts to
67.6 percent (1503), social violence 12 percent (267), rape 8.9 percent (199),
attempt to rape 2.6 percent (58), sexual violence 3.4 percent (76), murder 1.8
percent (40), attempt to murder 1.2 percent (26).Last year, 14 women became the
victims of trafficking and 4 of attempt to trafficking. Likewise, the suicide
rate of women is on the rise and the data shows this year 1.2 percent (27)
committed suicide. Similarly, 11 women were made to disappear for different
reasons. These are only the cases documented by WOREC and many such instances
of violence against women are confined to individual households only and they
never come out in open. This data express the bitter reality of the status of
women in Nepali society.
In Nepal, the violence against women is rampant. Violence
against women is happening day by day but the government and the other civil
society members are doing their best but still there is plenty of room to work
and control the forms of violence against women. The violence against women in
politics is also rampant but we are unaware or the cases have not been come out
in the realm of violence against women due to its ignorance. And, even the
political leaders are unaware whether the violence happening in political
parties to women leaders is duly the violence against women in politics.
In other words, cases of violence against
women are only a few out of many more cases of gender-based violence in the country,
including instances of physical, sexual, psychological, socio-cultural and
economic violence. Violence against women and girls is a form of discrimination
as well as a violation of human rights. The wide public attention that is now
being generated has created momentum that we cannot allow to simply subside. It
must be supported if real change is to occur in Nepal and globally.
Nepal has made strong normative and
legal commitments to ending gender-based violence and inequality. It has
ratified the Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination
Against Women (CEDAW), thereby legally binding itself to put the CEDAW
provisions into practice. A Domestic Violence Act and a 5-year national
strategy and action plan for ending gender-based violence have been put in
place. But still, there is no name of ending the violence against women.
There have been development in different sector
but with the development, Violence against Women has been increased. Not only
this, media directly and indirectly are involved in the increasement of
violence against women. In the name of showing awareness programme, something
the media shows the vulgar scenes and violence which is also the reason for
increasing VAW. Not only this, movies too show the scenes which encourage
people to do crimes against women.
So, to end the violence against women,
although law is important, it’s all about the mindset of the people. Firstly,
the people should think that both are equal. Not only this, from home it should
be started that both are equal. Parents should teach their daughters that they
are strong and brave enough to fight for them. Moreover, they should teach
their sons to respect the women. Parents should also teach their daughters
about bad and good touch.
Secondly, school should not feel hesitate
for teaching about gender, sex and violence against women. They too should
teach the girls about bad and good teach. In additional to this, schools should
promote gender equality in schools
and widen access to education for girls. It has been proven time and time again
that girls enrolled in school are less likely to be married early and become
pregnant. If that weren’t reason enough, girls that obtain higher levels of
education are more likely to find employment and become empowered as a result
of their financial contributions to the family and community. Furthurmore,
every school should have martial arts for both boys and girls so that they
should defend themselves. Not only this, if schools do not provide martial
arts, girls should learn from institutions.
Thirdly,
people should understand the meaning of NO. If girls say NO, it really means NO. If girls are
drunkard and if she says no than it really means no. People should not misinterpret
of it.
Fourthly, there is need to provide women with access to legal
representation and opportunities to pursue justice against
perpetrators of violence through the formal legal system
Fifth, there is a need to end forced early marriage and premature pregnancy, the
leading cause of death of girls between 15 to 19 years of age. Many girls are expected
to marry before they turn 18 over the next decade, programs like daughters can
be like do like son which offer conditional cash transfers to incentive
families to delay their daughter’s marriages, will likely help reduce arranged
marriages and allow girls to develop both physically and mentally before
marriage and child-birth.
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