KATHMANDU, April 19: Half Day Women Empowerment Self Defense training has been organized at National Women Commission Bhadrakali-Plaza, Kathmandu in support of CARE Nepal. About 30 helplines (Khabar Garaun-1145) related female staffs, legal officer and other senior staffs of National Women Commission, CARE Nepal and its partners were participated in the Self Defense training. The National Women Commission in Nepal has established a 24-hour toll free helpline to provide support to survivors of gender-based violence (GBV). If anyone faces GBV, or even witnesses such an incident, they can simply call the number 1145 to receive support for shelter, psycho-social support, child support and legal aid while CARE Nepal is an international humanitarian organization working in the country for the more than 37 years. It currently works in 59 districts through various programs in Nepal.

The overall objective of the Self Defense training was to physically and mentally empower the helpline related staff of NWC, CARE Nepal and its partners. Given training aimed to enhance the knowledge of Self Defense techniques to those staff those are ready for 24 hours to support the gender base violence'svictims. According to participants, conducted training was very much interactive covering both psychological motivation and self-defense skills.

The training was given by Giri Bahadur Sunar, who is a pioneer of Women Empowerment Self Defense training in Nepal. Sunar had initiated Girls/Women Empowerment Self Defense training in 1998 from Babiyachaur Myagdi. Since last ten years, he is actively involving in this campaign. Up to now, he had given training in Mahendranagar, Ramechap, Dharan, Damauli, Nepalgunj, Bharatpur, Bhaktapur, Lalitpur, Kathmandu and many more places of Nepal. By profession, he is sociologist.

According to Sunar, "For women/girls, self defense sound scary stuff but it is the demand of time, it is impossible for the government to be everywhere, 24/7, 365 days in a year, neither victims father, brother or husband nor Lord Krishna is going to appear to protect them at the time of need, so girls/ women have to prepare themselves.”

He added that doing nothing is basically giving up; defender has to come with the mentality that either him or ME and informed that self-defense training aimed to boost up the confidence level of girl/women and to improve their physical and mental health.

 “In last nine months about 89 girls/women were raped. Sadly, 66% never tell anyone about their experience or seek help", he said.

Speaking at the program, project Manager Palita Thapa of Sambodhan Project stressed on the importance of 1145 in the training session and said, "Self defense training should be in school curriculum so children can learn all the challenges at early age and get ready to fight-back at the time of need".

The newly appointed secretary of National Women Commission, Anil Kumar Thakur said, "Self defense training is very useful for girls and women and it should be expanded in federal system as well"

Rest of the participants found that given training was so simple and anybody can learn it and it should be reach to every part of Nation.  

 
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