KATHMANDU, March 16: Vice President Nanda Bahadur Pun has said that it is upsetting that women and girls face various forms of violence even in the 21st Century.

Speaking at the inauguration of a conference jointly organized by the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), National Women Commission, Women NGO Federation and Every Woman Treaty held in Kathmandu on Tuesday, Vice President Pun stated that 70 percent of the domestic violence victims are victimized by their own relatives.

Globally, the reasons for increasing violence against women and girls are illiteracy, ignorance, unemployment, poverty and different types of war, climate change, and the COVID-19 pandemic. He also committed that the rights of women and girls mentioned in Nepal's constitution will be implemented. He also stated that this conference will be the initiative to end violence against women and girls in South Asia. 

Top Bahadur Thapa, Chairperson of NHRC, mentioned that violence against women and girls is pervading so initiatives should be taken at the international level to end such violence. He also stated even though there is a law for violence against women and girls, it is not effectively implemented so the government bodies should increase their roles accordingly. “Since violence against women and girls is also a kind of human rights violation, Human Rights Commission is also committed to stopping violence against women and girls,” he added. 

Similarly, Kamala Parajuli, Chairperson of National Women Commission, said that the participation of women in politics, social service, finance and other sectors has increased but this has also been a push factor for violence against them. Stating that violence against women and girls is increasing nowadays, she also pointed out that effective implementation of the rules and regulations made by the state has been a great challenge. 

Speaking at the program, General Secretary of SAARC, Esala Ruwan Weerakoon said that several forms of discrimination are triggering violence against women and girls adding that SAARC would prioritize gender equality ending such discrimination. 

According to the organizers, various issues including violence against women and girls, impact of COVID-19 on women, importance of addressing violence against women and girls to achieve sustainable development were discussed during the second session. 

 
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