In Nepal, violence against women is one of the major factors responsible for the poor health of women, livelihood insecurity, and inadequate social mobilization. The magnitude of gender-based violence in Nepal is extremely high. Several research projects in Nepal have indicated that 66 percent of women have endured verbal abuse, 33 percent emotional abuse, while 77 percent of the perpetrators were family members (UNICEF 2001). This indicates that even the home is not a safe place for women. Social relations of power place women in a subordinate position, giving many women few rights in the family, community and society in general. In addition, in the context of political conflict, women have often become the target of violence. Because women are made the objects of revenge, there has been an increase in sexual assault and sexual harassment. Thus, gender-based violence is a serious issue that requires a comprehensive solution.

• To provide psycho-social support to victims of violence.

• To empower youth and facilitate their mobilization towards the prevention of violence against women and children, particularly traffic in women and children.

• To provide a forum where youth can share and discuss emerging issues and problems with their peers

• Mobilise youth to raise awareness about violence

• Youth counselling centres.

• Workshops and training to local government bodies about violence issues.

• Skills and technical support to local youth group, including advocacy training, to influence local planning and to safeguard the rights of women and children.

• Street dramas to raise awareness about violence against women.

Violence against women (VAW) during armed conflict is a phenomenon that has become a characteristic of any armed conflict- it is also the case in Nepal. However, VAW has remained largely invisible because of the lack of evidence, adequate and proper documentation of women's human rights violations.  Although, it is evident from talking to various authorities working on women's issues and community women themselves that VAW is a major development issue in Nepal, it still draws less attention because of its gender specific impact.

The patriarchal and male dominated social formations compel women to hide violations they face, which means the issues never surface and hence receive little or no attention from government structures. Precisely because violence against women remains hidden, documentation becomes an effective tool for exposing these violations. 

Documentation of women's human rights violations especially during wartime becomes important to record, in order to illustrate how women are as affected as the men during conflict situations, albeit differently.  Documentation also catalyzes the process of reconciliation and allows women specific issues to come forward during the reconstruction process.

During the 61st session of the Commission on Human Rights in 2005 Geneva, the need to document cases of women's human rights violations especially in times of armed conflict became obvious. Given the present political situation in Nepal, women have been targeted and used by the different parties at war; domestic violence is significantly increasing; women have become more vulnerable to trafficking because of the higher rates of internal displacement; coerced sex work around army barracks has been increasing; and a culture of silence around VAW resulting partly from the increased militarization of Nepali society has developed. However, at the commission, when questions were raised regarding evidence of these violations and  gender specific data, it was not available. This is the challenge faced by pro- human rights groups in Nepal at the 61st session and hence, the organization decided to immediately proceed to document women's human rights violations in Nepal.

With the realization that documentation of the effect of the conflict on women’s rights was necessary to make visible state atrocities towards women as well as to emphasize women's active participation in Nepal’s armed conflict, the Women's Rehabilitation Centre (WOREC) started a nationwide documentation campaign. In the process, WOREC trained 125 community women leaders from 62 districts on documentation skills for documenting cases of violence against women in their community.

Since 2005, the trained documenters have been working on documenting cases of violence against women. The main goal of this entire process is to record evidence on violence against women that will work as an advocacy tool towards making the state accountable for addressing women specific issues, in particular, women’s human rights violations in situations of armed conflict.

62nd Session on the United Nations Commission on Human Rights (UNCHR)

Given the deteriorating human rights situation of the country, it becomes pertinent that we give continuity to our advocacy work on women's human rights. Therefore, WOREC is actively participating in the UNCHR this year in Geneva.
WOREC in coordination with FORUM ASIA has submitted two written statements for the upcoming commission. (Please put the written statements on pdf format through links)

1. FA and WOREC Written statement under Item 12, VAW in Nepal
2. A and WOREC Written statement under Item 17, WHRD in Nepal

WOREC plans to present oral statements on VAW, WHRD and Health issues at the Commission. Also, we have planned to hold parallel events on VAW and WHRD issues. (More information yet to come)