Speaking at the program organized by Center for Awareness Promotion (CAP-Nepal), 53 women from Alapot village development committee (VDC) of Sankhu area of Kathmandu stated that only economic empowerment can enable them to fight back against the gender-based violence.
“In most of the cases, we are treated badly and even abused just because we are financially dependent. The male members in our community very well know that we have nowhere to go,” said Bina Kumari. “And that is the reason why they take us for granted.”
Twenty-three year old Parbati Bista stated that it is very important to invest on women´s economic self-reliance to curb the violence they suffer. “Awareness programs have been run by several organizations. Even in our village, we are given trainings related to violence against women on a regular basis. However, how can a girl or women rebel against own family when she is not capable to lead her life on her own?” she questioned.
CAP Nepal has been providing gender related trainings to the village women and men since a year with an aim to declare the VDC free of gender discrimination, according to Hira Dahal, president of the organization.
Meanwhile, media officer of the organization Neha Sharma noted that women in the VDC have been able to at least raise their voices against violence against them because of the trainings it has been providing. “Speaking up against violence makes a huge difference. The women in the VDC more clearly understand the issue now and have stoop up against it,” she said.
Advocate Sabin Shrestha, director of Forum or Women Law and Development (FWLD), provided training on human rights violation to the 53 women on Friday.
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