Rights of women in nepal

Our country, Nepal is popularly known as a traditional

nation. It gives more priority to its customs and traditions

rather than other subjects of matter. This country has been

ruled and operated by majority of men since the beginning of

humanity. Men play the vital role in each sector of

development. History of Nepal is the evidence that all the

development works are carried out by majority of men and less

women. Even though, there is equal importance of male and

female in development of nation, females are kept aside in

development as well as social matter.

In each and every sector, men play a main role and women

are in inferior position. The main cause of such vast differences

is the lack of education and public awareness. Such differences

start from the early period of males and females life. In point of

view of Nepalese people, females are regarded as a curse and

males as boon. They do not like bearing female baby as they

have to get her married and provide dowry. So, they take it as

burden. That’s why, when they bear a boy and a girl, they give

higher priority and more love to boy and the girl is kept within

the four walls of home. Thus, no matter how talented they are,

they never get a chance to develop.

The condition of women living in our country is really

miserable. Women living in our society are still under the

shadow of darkness. They are bounded by the traditional

concept of conservative society. They are busy mostly in

kitchen and household works. Though, women occupy more

population in Nepal, they have less participation in the high

level jobs and some other important matters related to their

life. They can experience very few legal rights and even our

society places them in an inferior position. This was often

justified as being the result of biological differences between

the sexes.

Women were thought to be more emotional and less

decisive than men. They are not given sufficient opportunities

to improve themselves and are discouraged to go ahead. No

matter whatever progress they make, they are still suppressed

by this traditional society. Moreover, they are somehow

experiencing basic rights, but they are deprived of social rights

in many ways. Furthermore, they are regarded as the symbol of

creating, protecting and nursing. They bear and grow-up

children. They have many more responsibilities like biological,

social and national. But, still their condition in our nation is

backward. They are so because of male domination, traditional,

social structures, unequal laws, lack of awareness, poverty and

lack of government protection for them.

Women in our society have been confined only to

household chores, rearing children, preparing food, collecting

fodder for cattle and family sanitation. Especially, they do not

have freedom for movement and for adopting job. They are

deprived of higher studies and property rights. They are not

encouraged for social exposure. Furthermore, they had been

the victim of domestic violence from their husbands, brothers,

mother-in-law and even relatives. Their appeal is not uprightly

accepted even by the administrator. Sometimes, they are even

beaten, kidnapped and killed. Hence, they are really living a

sorrowful life. CBS (Central Bureau of Statistics) and the report

of UNDP shows that women’s participation in developmental

works of Nepal is of low grade. Their rate of involvement in

different sectors like education, civil service, participation in

teaching and legal practice is very low.

Though many NGOs (National Government Organization),

INGOs (International Government Organization) and

governmental organizations are working for the rights of

women, their condition has not been improved significantly.

Therefore, in first place, the women themselves must raise

voice for their rights. Government, stakeholders, NGOs and

INGOs has to take certain measures to uplift the condition of

women in every nook and cranny of Nepal. Awareness

programs must be conducted in their favor. Rallies with slogans

like “GENDER EQUALITY”, “EDUCATION FOR ALL”, and etcetera

must be spread all over our country. Thus, women must be

provided with rights equal to that of men.

Reference;

The present status of Nepali women -

Ashmita Bhattarai