The 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence campaign is currently underway. The campaign, celebrated every year from November 25 to December 10, aims to raise awareness about gender-based violence and empower victims to speak up against such violence. No matter how small and limited this campaign may be, it will certainly have an impact in terms of ending gender-based violence, which is so rampant in the country. The fact that the campaign has had a positive impact in creating awareness among women about gender-based violence highlights the need to organize it more vigorously. The issue of gender-based violence is common in all parts of the world. The only difference is the degree to which it occurs. The prevalence of such violence is particularly high in underdeveloped countries where literacy rates are low and norms and values are largely determined by patriarchal systems. This situation underscores the need for women to unite in their struggle against such violence.
When it comes to fighting gender-based violence, there is a fundamental problem in understanding this issue. Many tend to think that violence means only beatings, attacks or murder. But if only these are considered gender-based violence, then injustice will be done to the millions who suffer from other forms of such violence. Accusations of witchcraft and torture, social humiliation and stigmatization and discriminatory behavior on the grounds of gender are also forms of violence. Inhumane acts such as spraying acid, torturing, using poisonous or biological substances to harm women and girls and forcing victims to ingest excreta in the name of penalizing the so-called witches still continue to this day. These are just a few forms of violence meted out against women in our country. The issue of gender-based violence appears deeply entrenched in the Terai region, mainly due to the dowry system. Child marriage also persists in remote and poor settlements. The evil practice of confining girls to makeshift sheds, known as Chhau Goth, during menstruation has yet to be eradicated in remote areas of western Nepal. Nepali women have suffered the worst consequences of such practices. The efforts made by various stakeholders to eliminate these illogical practices have not yielded results despite continuous struggle.
Stakeholders call for ending violence against journalists
Our society is heavily guided by patriarchal values. Social superstitions and patriarchal belief systems promote practices that view women as inferior to their male counterparts. As a result, some societies and communities are not even ready to consider gender violence as violence, many even considering beating, exploiting, and insulting women and gender minority groups a natural right. These deeply entrenched beliefs remain unchallenged, making it commonplace for Nepali women to face attacks simply because of their gender. In such a situation, the campaign against gender violence, ongoing at various levels in Nepal, should be considered timely. However, its scope should be expanded, and the way it is being organized may need transformation. We must acknowledge the bitter reality that such a campaign has yet to reach the real victims. In areas where sexual violence occurs routinely, victims often do not even realize that the actions committed against them are forms of violence. This requires taking the campaign to the grassroots level. All individuals and organizations, including government agencies working in the field of women's rights, should collaborate to focus campaigns on actual needs and act accordingly. Otherwise, such campaigns risk becoming mere rituals.
