Sanjaya Dhakal
Nepalese women under the shadow of domestic violence
although nepals decadelong conflict ended every year tens thousands women country still experience violence 80 cases perpetrator stranger woman member family sanjaya dhakal reports kathmandu despite rising political awareness women nepal still subject deeply entrenched discrimination resulting scary situation violence commonplace domestic violence women including beatings husbands dowryrelated murders physical psychological harassment families rampant nepal one poorest countries world total incidence violence women domestic violence constitutes 80 said dhana kumari sunar member national womens commission nwc among various causes domestic violence dowryrelated hostilities second marriage husbands assaults women accused witches disputes involving properties top list added central cell women children nepals police headquarters recorded 1100 cases domestic violence women past year since reports consist formal complaints lodged women officials concede tip iceberg violent episodes occur within family settings often women end noone nowhere turn society still overtly patriarchal nwcan umbrella national body formed protect rights womenis process compiling nationwide data numbers nature violence women safely say tens thousands women suffer domestic violence every year country sunar said women nepal fought alongside nepalese men restore democracy country 2 years ago roundly disappointed parliament helped restore also failed take cause bill combat domestic violence women lingering nepals parliament past 13 years could passed even years parliamentary session ended last month bill important piece legislation could provided crucial support nepalese women absence law perpetrators domestic violence often get scotfree get slap wristsince many cases traditional patriarchy operates manner husbands senior family members thought possess right control women house take case hasun idrisia woman city western nepal called nepalgunj long harassed husband inlaws bringing big enough marriage dowry 2 months ago poured kerosene body set fire nearby locked toilet luckily neighbours heard shouts help managed rush hospital survived manauti saru lucky 23yearold woman nawalparasi district south western nepal killed husband 2 weeks ago case registered husbandsher bahadur saru constable local police station family members accused hacking death amidst domestic scuffle almost every day newspapers country report cases domestic violence women extent problem shown report last week january four women killed husbands family members space 1 week rupandehi nawalparasitwo districts southwestern nepal three women killed dowryrelated disputes fourth killed husband bitter domestic brawl ironically two districts earlier declared local civil society organisations zones free violence women currently even grave violence women sexual violence marital rape mental physical torture dealt public offence act nonpassage bill control domestic violence therefore unfortunate said sunar womens rights activists also complained tendency law enforcement agencies try settle disputes without pressing charges perpetrators often police local people try settle domestic dispute pressing women accepting fate society still dominated hindu patriarchy set strict codesmany conflict basic rights women said activist former nwc chairperson bandana rana women experienced conflictrelated trauma decadelong conflict nepal 1996 2006 nepal throes violent insurgency 15 000 people lost livesmany women many people injured displaced thousands women subjected torture assault rape sides warring factions around 300 000 peoplemostly women childrenwere displaced native places due conflict however recent times conflictrelated traumas rape forced displacements tapered domestic violence continues grow seen incidence violence women drop although level awareness among women regarding rights increased sadly situation improved far violence concerned said rana also vice president saathian organisation runs shelter home abused women kathmandu sita gurung name changed bhojpur district eastern nepal found shelter saathi husband used beat every day unable bear beatings even minor causes ran away house said gurung amidst backdrop nepals womens rights movement gaining strength consequently government amended old laws discriminated women parliament already declared women guaranteed least 33 representation areas state policy helped change condition ground social neglect experienced women shown poor health indicators latest demographic health survey shows maternal mortality rate per 100 000 deliveries 281 81 births still take place home half million children school 60 girls overall literacy women 425 compared 651 men according recently released government statistics women received short end stick economic front well report commissioned nwc revealed startling discrimination women terms ownership assets properties report assessed situation 68 75 districts nepal exposed skewed nature property distribution revealed 078 houses actually legally owned women three women 500 houses names 525 women landownership certificates name likewise 545 women owned livestock 17 women kind assets name ornaments jewellery property land 16 women regular income 8 civilservice privatesector workforce made women women nepal suffer various kinds discrimination landed pathetic socioeconomic condition said babita basnet prominent womens rights activist nepal past two decades nepal gone series political upheavals 1990 street movement restored democracy country 1996 violent insurgency launched maoists ended 2006 peace pact movements women took part prominently still unable secure participation areas society improve socioeconomic status even women occupy less 5 leadership positions political parties social factors addressed improve health wellbeing women nepal continue pay price