National Alliance for Women Human Right Defenders (NAWHRD) formally launched 100 days campaign with the theme "SAY NO, ENSURE JUSTICe" on Dec 2011. Senior artist Madan Krishna Shrestha, Haribansha Acharya, Badri Pangani, Ramesh, Rayan, Mr Durgalal Shrestha, Madhu Gurung, Manju Ghimire committed their solidarity in the campaign. Dr Renu Rajbhandari, chairperson of NAWHRD highlighted the objective and importance of the campaign.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yHUxxSSkQYg

100 DAYS OF CAMPAIGN AGAINST

ALL FORMS OF VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN

Violence against women (VAW) has remained one of the most shocking but least talked about issues that Nepal faces today. This is disturbingly a growing trend in Nepal. According to Anbeshi 2011 (A year Book On violence Against women published by WOREC Nepal), there were 1569 cases registered in WOREC alone. Although just a tip of the iceberg, this number is enough to evidence the magnitude of the problem. The report further confirms that the women of Nepal are the primary victims of violence within intimate relationships. The pattern is in line with the report of Multi country study of WHO (2010) on violence against women.

Although VAW has long been on the international agenda, there has never been any substantial space to make the state accountable to its duties and responsibilities. However, in recent years, Nepal has managed to surface this heinous crime. Women in Nepal have been continuously raising their voice against violations of women’s rights. Thus, in 2008, the government passed the Domestic Violence and Punishment Act 2065 accompanied by the declaration of 2067 BS as a Year against Gender Violence. These are serious outcomes of strategic advocacy made by  women human rights defenders of Nepal. Some of their ground breaking moves are 24 days of non stop hunger strike and black petticoat rally in 2008. Despite the law on domestic violence, victims have not been able to access justice. After the adoption of the law, the state is equating Domestic Violence to VAW, which has largely left the victims of broad range of violations excluded. 

Nepal and its International Obligations: Is that Adequate?

Nepal is signatory to all big 6 Human Right treaties. Nepal's response to international community on questions raised during UPR process in regard to the issue related  to GBV specially on issues of rape, trafficking, domestic violence and violence against Women Human Right Defenders (WHRD) was positive. Nepal has committed to address the issues by adopting special measures. Similarly during CEDAW committee examination on Nepal report in 49th CEDAW session (11-29th July) the committee has recommended the Government of Nepal (GoN) to put in place a comprehensive strategy immediately with concrete goals and time tables, to eliminate patriarchal attitudes and stereotypes that discriminate women in conformity to article  2(f) and 5 (a) of the convention. In addition, the committee has recommended strengthening awareness raising efforts to eliminate harmful traditional practices and work with media to built positive non-stereotypical image of women. The recommendation further suggests to promptly enacting the draft law to address harmful social practices along with mechanism to implement this law without any delay. The committee urges the GoN to prioritize attention to combating VAW by adopting comprehensive measures in accordance to General Recommendation no 19. There is also a call by the committee to address trafficking and sexual exploitation of women and girls without any delay.

 Are the Existing National Mechanisms Adequate?

The Government of Nepal has always taken the recommendations made by international community and committed in international flora to respond positively. To respond to these international obligation and commitment made through interim constitution, the GoN has made its commitment public in written to address the issue. Each Prime Minister of the new Democratic Republic of Nepal has committed, in their speeches, to respond to VAW   as a priority issue. The 2nd PM, Madhav Kumar Nepal, had even initiated PM campaign against VAW. There is National Plan of Action against VAW and trafficking. There are consorted efforts made by Nepal police and other institutions of the sate to end all forms of violence. However the desired outcomes are far from reality.

Existing Challenges to Meet the Expectation

In spite of Government's national and international commitments, the VAW is on the rise. Politicization of crime and criminalization of politics in the country has made almost impossible for the victims to get justice. There are enough evidences where the perpetrators of violence against women get support and protection from different political parties. Similarly there are evidences where the perpetrators are even protected by the state machinery. Dominant patriarchal values within the law enforcing agency make it almost impossible for women to register the case. Even   cases when  women dare to register the cases, they  hardly reach the court. In almost all the cases, women are blamed for causing the violence; and efforts are made to keep them silent. "Justice delayed is justice denied ," but this is common in Nepal. Lengthy judiciary system makes for women almost impossible to survive after filing the case against perpetrator and it is worse if that is her husband. Increasing violence against WHRDs alleging as brokers of the societal rules and values, as well as causing the family to break by empowering women, has made it difficult for them to support women suffering from violence and to bring their cases and create safe space for them. This situation is further increasing danger of bringing women back to the "culture of silence". It took decades for women activists to create an environment for women to break the culture of silence. It took decade for government and different international agencies to make women understand that they should not tolerate the violence. And, these achievements are at stake due to the lack of transforming state commitments into action, and also due to increasing corruption and culture of impunity. This should not and cannot be tolerated by any person believing in human rights, social justice and women rights. Thus it has become even more urgent to come for all actors together and create an environment to end all forms of violence against women in Nepal. Now it is very important for the government to meet the obligation to fulfill the due diligence.

 Initiation by National Alliance of Women Human Right Defender

Keeping in focus the above mentioned context and situation in mind, the National Alliance of Women Human Right Defender (NAWHRD) is going to launch a 100-day campaign against VAW with the plea to all Human right and civil society organization, business communities and all responsible stakeholders to collaborate and support this campaign. This campaign has been initiated and launched to call Government's attention to transform the commitments made at international and national arena into action and ensure women's right to live without any forms of violence, and protect their right to get justice. This phase of campaign primarily focuses on following two demands:

<!--[if !supportLists]-->1.      <!--[endif]-->Create rapid response mechanism to address case of violence against women within 24 hrs.

<!--[if !supportLists]-->2.     <!--[endif]-->Enact policy to ensure security to WHRDs.

How can you support the campaign?

 This is an open nationwide forum. Everyone who is committed to end all forms of violence against women can be a part of this campaign by joining the following actions:

<!--[if !supportLists]-->§  <!--[endif]-->writing a letter to the campaign secretariat with an interest to be a part of the campaign

<!--[if !supportLists]-->§  <!--[endif]-->writing a letter to the PM of Nepal to address the demands made by the campaign

<!--[if !supportLists]-->§  <!--[endif]-->by donating to the campaign

<!--[if !supportLists]-->§  <!--[endif]-->by volunteering for the campaign

<!--[if !supportLists]-->§  <!--[endif]-->by publishing news and disseminating information through your media.

<!--[if !supportLists]-->§  <!--[endif]-->by taking any actions to make voices of victims heard, listened, respected and responded.

Campaign Secretariat

 The secretariat is located at Gongabu, Kathmandu within Women for Women Forum office.

Email: secretariat@100daysvawcampaign.org