The challenges are not only to NWC but to the government and Nepali society as a whole as the cases of violence against women are increasingly reported in various parts of the country.
Established in 2052 BS, the NWC has failed to control the VAW as expected but has been organizing various awareness programmes as for making gradual changes to see women's position in the society. The rape of minors and elderly women has created challenges to the NWC.
Speaking at a programme organized to mark the anniversary at NWC head office today, member of the NWC Urmila Bishwakarma said, "The NWC has been a tiger with no claws and jaws due to lack of concrete law and policy. The Increasing VAW cases is a challenge to NWC. To control such cases there should be the provision of life term imprisonment and confiscation of property of the guilty involved in such cases."
The NWC that has received a variety of leadership so far has been able to draft some laws but failed to become a powerful institution, said Manu Humagain, another NWC member.
Former Chairperson of the NWC Bandana Rana said the NWC should be made a constitutional body to create environment for women to live with dignity and one and all should work in this regard.
During the programme, Chief Secretary Leela Mani Poudyal said the government was serious over the increasing cases of VAW and emphasized on the need to introduce law that give maximum punishment to those involved in it.
Likewise, Minister for Women, Children and Social Welfare Nilam KC said the crimes in the country could not be controlled unless the society changes its attitude towards women and stressed on the need of coordination among all to this effect.
Chairperson of the programme and NWC Chairperson Seikh Chandtara said the women's situation in Nepal was not as bad as some other countries in South Asia but there should be more improvement in the current situation. RSS
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