Women to Women Forum, NRN 18th Oct 2013 Violence Against Women

Irada Gautam / Founder President Aawaaj Email:iradapg@gmail.com aawaaj@mail.com.np Website; www.aawaaj.org.np Phone No: 9851062124 ; 0097714811001

Violence Against Women

Situation of Violence against Women in Nepal

The UN Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women in Nepal (CEDAW, 2011) states that about 30% of married women have experienced at least one episode of physical, emotional, or sexual abuse by their husbands.

A Situation Analysis of Gender Based Violence in two districts in Nepal revealed that over 80 percent of women reported experiencing domestic violence from their husbands in Daang and Surkhet Districts of Mid Western Region of Nepal. (UNFPA, IRC, Saathi Nepal, WHR, 2008, A Situational Analysis of Gender Based Violence in Daang and Surkhet)
48.4 % women employees/workers face sexual harassment in the workplace (ILO/FWLD study 2004)

Situation of Violence contd..

Abuse is rarely reported, due to the consequences for women, children and matter of family prestige. Percentage of women who identified current husband as Perpetrator of sexual violence (DHS 2011) is 83.7% Percentage of women who identified current husband as Perpetrator of Physical violence (DHS 2011) is 79% Legally, children are allowed to marry at the age of 20, but this provision is barely respected, as 34% of total marriages in Nepal involve girls below 16. The marriage of adolescent girls aged 15-19 is nearly three times higher (34%) than that of adolescent boys (12%). 7% of child marriages are held with children below 10. ( UPR 2011)

Situation of Violence contd..

Situation of Violence Contd .

About 11% of the population in the primary school going age ( 5-9) are still out of school. The percentage of girls particularly Madeshi, Muslim, Tharu, Janajatis, Dalits and girls with disability is the highest among the out of school population. Several studies have shown that the out of school children are a hard to reach target group. (Shadow report, 4th and 5th periodic report of the government of Nepal CEDAW 2011 )
Spousal abuse is common: men think they have the right to use violence against women to guarantee their good behaviour and to conserve the familys honour.

Situation of violence contd..

As per the child rights monitoring form of CCWB in 23 districts; 136 cases of child sexual abuse are recorded, out of this 133 are girls and 3 are the boys. (The state of children of Nepal
2012 )

CWIN in 2011 found that 75 percent of the street children in the Kathmandu Valley are victims of sexual abuse.
As per the record of WOREC from Baisakh to Bhadra 2070; 243 women and girls were raped and 36 were try to raped.

Situation of violence contd..

Chhaupadi system is a social ritual followed in some regions of Nepal. This ritual regards women as impure during their menstrual cycle; it is a belief that gods and goddesses become angry if any woman stays in her home and stayed small shed. According to the governments Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS) 2010, up to 58 % of women in some parts of the Mid and Far Western Region reported they have to live in an animal shed during their menstrual periods. Almost 40% of survivors of child sexual abuse and rape are girls below 18 yrs. Most of them are abused either at home, in educational institutions, or at their work place.

Situation of violence contd..

With 41% child marriage, Nepal ranks 19th in the world Eastern Region: 34% Central Region: 40% Western Region: 36% Mid-western Region: 53% Far-western Region: 48% (UNFPA, 2012) By age 15, 40% of girls are married

Violence against Women and Children in Police Cell

Fiscal Year Rape Attempt Trafficking Abortion to Rape Polygamy Child Marriage Domestic Violence Total

2008 2009 2010

309 391 376

73 75 101

123 139 161

13 12 8

122 170 146

4 2 7

881 968 983

1525 1757 1782

Forms of Violence Registered in Aawaaj 2012/2013

Forms of Violence Number of violence 20 39 153 184 71 14 16 61 10 11

Rape Sexual assault Physical assault Denial of resources opportunity or services Psychological/ emotional abuse Force marriage Trafficking Polygamy Child not accepted Harmful traditional Practices (witch craft blames)

Forms of Violence
Stage of Life Cycle Violence Type Data Sources

Pre natal Phase

Infancy Childhood

Sex selective abortions

Female infanticide Excess Female Child Mortality DHS, World Bank

Child abuse
Unmarried Adolescent Girls/ Childhood Forced marriage, heavy workload,

WHO
Focused empirical studies( quantitative and qualitative) UNODC

Childhood, Unmarried Adolescent Trafficking, dowry related Girls, Married Girls and Women of violence, Burn violence, Reproductive Age mobility control Unmarried Adolescent Girls, Married Girls and Women of Reproductive Age Crimes committed in name of "Honor Sexual Violence by non-partners Sexual harassment at public

Government Human Rights Reports and Crime Units DHS, WHO Focused empirical studies

Cont..
Stage of Life Cycle Married Girls and Women Of Reproductive Age Violence Type Intimate partner Violence, domestic violence, Data Sources DHS, WHO, Government Crime Units

Married Girls and Women Of Reproductive Age

Divorced and Widowed Women, Women of Old Age

Forced Sterilization
Maltreatment of widows/divorced

International Obligation of Nepal in regard to Domestic Violence

Convention on Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) Declaration on the Elimination of Violence against Women, 1993 Beijing Platform For Action, 1995 Universal Declaration of Human Rights, 1945 The International Covenant on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights (ESCR), 1966 International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) (1966)

Response and Intervention

Legal and policy environment
The Interim Constitution of Nepal (2007)
Physical, mental or any other form of violence prohibited, and equal participation promoted,

Domestic Violence Act (2009)

Physical, mental, sexual, economic violence as domestic violence.

The Gender Equality Act (2006)

Repeals and amends discriminatory provisions of previous acts.

Response and Intervention

The Human Trafficking Act (2007) Extended the definition of trafficking to include the offense of transportation for the purpose of trafficking. The Supreme Court ruling Chhaupadi , and marital rape, directives to control sexual violence at work place e.g. dance restaurant National Plan of Action for GBV 2010

Response and Intervention

Special programme with NPA on GVB (OPMCM) Complaint management unit GBV prevention fund Rescue, legal aid, treatment, rehabilitation Gender focal points in other ministries SOP developed Introduce one stop crisis centre in selective districts (local health service) National Plan of Action on UNSCR 1325 and 1820 Safe house for victims ( at certain district level)

Response and Intervention

Survivor support and capacity building activities Safe house, rehabilitation centers, Community based mechanisms - paralegal, anti-trafficking, Reproductive health programmes Multi-sectoral response to GBV Gender equality and empowerment of women Women and children service centres Sexual harassment on workplace bill approved

Response and Intervention

NWC and NGO initiatives: vocational training, shelter support to GBV survivors Rescue, rehabilitation, legal aid, psychosocial support Community based mechanisms training/awareness Advocacy and awareness program street drama, etc Other campaigns on GBV such as Anti rape campaign, Occupy Baluwatar campaign, 16 days campaign against violence from Nov 25 to Dec 10

Overall strengths
Ratification of international human rights instruments eg CEDAW, CRC Domestic Acts and Laws High level committee: inter-ministerial committee on GBV

Presence of community based mechanism (Para Legal Committee, womens group, anti-trafficking)
Availability of hot line for GBV response Coordination structures (Govt, UN and NGOs) Mobilization of Female Community Health Volunteers (48,000), existing community groups

GAPS and weaknesses

Violence is yet to be taken as a serious issue in Nepal Low reporting on VAW and lack of action Lack of effective implementation of legislations against violence Increasing rise in Impunity Less priority and long time taken to put in place laws to address VAW Weak Monitoring and Follow up on Actions to address VAW

GAPS and weaknesses

Lack of comprehensive research on VAW
There is no initiative to centralize the different data generated by different NGOS, police, it is scattered and hard to access. Both the government and of civil society initiatives to address VAW is inconsistent and lacks strong follow up and monitoring Lack of adequate resources at rural area

Challenges
Patriarchy and hierarchical society Political instability Culture of impunity Violence against women issues not always prioritized Insufficient response provision and structures for the survivors

Policy Implementation pace is slow;

Standardized information management system and information sharing protocol is not in place;

Recommendations..
Continue awareness raising programme, Campaign against discrimination and violence. Bring non traditional partners like men and boys, interfaith leaders, private sectors, media including popular culture and alternative media on board to address the issue in an effective manner. Conduct comprehensive research on VAW, promote a centralized data system and ensure its access to policymakers, researchers, academicians and advocates among others An emphasis should be placed on the women and children friendly policies, programs, and institutional reform that responds to the needs of survivors of violence by ensuring dignity and fundamental human rights.

Recommendations..
Education is a tool that goes beyond teaching girls and boys, it can help them challenge gender stereotypes and discrimination, and prevent violence against girls and women. Strengthen law enforcement to effectively respond to victims of violence as required by the new laws adopted, and the laws reformed. Strengthen collaborative efforts, support services ( holistic approach) , Focus to change attitude and behavior of men and authorities Expand safe house through out the country / access at VDC Level

Recommendations..

VAW is a complex problem. Addressing GBV requires coordinated solutions involving the participation of both the state and civil society. Furthermore, the participation of all relevant stakeholders must be sought. Program needs to be sustainable and less donor oriented. Focus for the reflection of commitment in action

Thank You- Irada Parajuli Gautam Founder of Aawaaj , Executive WSPG