By Deepak Joshi Pokhrel
While the country was observing 16 days of activism against gender-based violence amidst great fanfare from November 25 to December 10, 2023, with the theme “UNITE”, sixty-two cases of violence against women and girls took place in the country during the same period. The figures are alarming at a time when we claim that gender-based violence has become a thing of the past in the country. According to the World Health Organization’s most recent report estimates launched in March 2021, almost one in three women worldwide faces physical or sexual violence in their lifetime. Most of this is in the form of intimate partner violence. This means women are at greater risk from people they live with.
Gender-based violence is one of the most heinous crimes against humanity. Every year, a large number of women and girls fall prey to the spoiled brats of big mansions. Women and girls are assaulted, physically and verbally abused and even killed while resisting the assault. Out of the gender-based violence cases reported across the country in 2021-22, a whopping 78.82 percent are found to be domestic violence in Nepal. Even worse, over 83 percent of cases were committed by the people known to them.
But why the gender-based violence not ended despite having all legal remedies at our disposal? When our women and girls will be able to live without constant fear. When we will be able to claim that gender-based violence has become a thing of the past in letter and spirit? Here, I will provide close to perfect answer
Ever since the dawn of civilization, males have been dominating our society. Though we claim that we have transformed socially, the ground realities suggest otherwise. Even now, the major decisions — be it at the household level or outside — are taken by the males negating the consultation of females let alone their influence. Even worse, the women do not have control over resources and as a result, they are not financially independent making them vulnerable to gender-based violence.
In the rapidly changing world, women in many parts of the country are still confined within the four walls hindering their growth and development. In the absence of adequate education, they are unable to speak against the assault and continue to suffer silently. Not only in remote districts, even the educated family in the country’s capital view their daughter as a burden and marry off them even when they are at a tender age. Such stereotyped thinking has only triggered gender-based violence.
The biggest problem lies in our social structure which is based on the principle that males are decision-makers who view women as their sub-ordinates. They believe that women are just for men’s consumption. Likewise, they also hold the view that assault on women is the biggest expression of masculinity. With such a perception existing among men, any efforts to end gender-based violence will never deliver the result.
Accurate data on gender-based violence is a very big challenge in Nepal. The victims seldom report the crime meted on them fearing social stigma. The victim’s family have been reluctant to seek legal remedy thinking it will adversely affect their social status. Even if reported, the perpetrators threaten the victim and family with dire consequences. As a result, many cases are withdrawn by the family and some are negotiated outside the law. This emboldens the perpetrators to engage in such crimes in future as well thinking that the victim’s family will not report to the concerned authority fearing social stigma.
Many experts complained that the low budget to tackle gender-based violence has been the greatest challenge. Budget is the main resource — be it managing workforces, empowering women and institutions that look after the affairs of women, children and senior citizens. It is said that the government do not allocate a sufficient budget to the Ministry of Women, Children and Senior Citizens when it comes to battling gender-based violence. No saner mind would expect that the concerned ministry will be able to deliver the result when it is financially weak to fight such crimes.
The laws and policies related to women’s rights lack effective enforcement. There is a saying that Nepal has been good in the formulation of good policies but weak in its implementation. Now the time has come to prove such an axiom wrong. This is only possible when the concerned authority translates its word into action.
Equally important is the engagement of men in combating gender-based violence. Men need to understand that gender is not just about women; it involves everyone. Gender-based violence (GBV) does not only harm women; it also has negative impacts on men and boys, gender as well as the entire community. Hence, men and boys must take an active role in reducing violence and protecting themselves, their families, and society from the adverse effects of GBV. This helps in building a society where nobody faces violence, and everyone can enjoy their rights and freedom.
This is not to say that the government and concerned authorities have not engaged men in combating gender-based violence. It has. For instance, the Ministry of Women, Children, and Senior Citizens (MoWCSC) established a Male Leaders’ Network for Gender Justice in 2015. Additionally, the government introduced the Engaging Men in Eliminating Gender-Based Violence Procedure in 2018. In recent times, several local governments have been providing training to men on gender justice.
Yet, gender-based violence continues to thrive in our society. What a pity!
The views expressed in this article are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect People’s Review’s editorial stance.
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