PM Karki underscores education, awareness to end gender violence

BY A STAFF REPORTER,Kathmandu, Nov. 26: Prime Minister Sushila Karki has said that society must be awakened to end gender-based violence. She emphasised that poverty reduction, improved education, enhanced social awareness, and increased employment opportunities can play a vital role in eliminating gender violence.

Inaugurating the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence (GBV) campaign on Tuesday, Prime Minister Karki said that although Nepal has laws against gender violence, they are not effectively implemented. “We have laws, yet they are not enforced. Violence occurs, but justice does not. To end violence, society must be awakened,” she said.

Reflecting on the major legal reforms introduced after 1990 and the amendments made to gender equality laws, she said that implementation remains weak. “Just because a woman becomes prime minister or president, we cannot claim full equality. True equality will be achieved when the people elect a woman to these positions through their vote,” she stated.

Karki stressed the need for women to enter politics and reach decision-making positions. However, she also said that in the name of freedom, people should not forget their traditions, identities, and languages. She added that digital technology offers many benefits but has also become a space where both men and women face violence, with women being disproportionately affected. “If such acts are punished, justice is ensured, and equality strengthened,” she said.

The prime minister remarked that no religion instructs anyone to discriminate against or harm women, yet women continue to face injustice and bias even when seeking justice. She expressed concern that victims experience discrimination during the registration of complaints and sometimes face interference.

She further stated that women compelled to migrate abroad due to a lack of employment opportunities are especially vulnerable to violence. She said that corruption control and good governance would also help reduce violence. Stressing the need to create employment opportunities within the country, she expressed her commitment to prioritising women.

Chairman of the National Human Rights Commission, Top Bahadur Magar, urged stakeholders to adopt effective measures to curb technology-related violence. He said the commission had been operating help desks to address violence and discrimination.

Chairman of the National Women's Commission, Kamala Kumari Parajuli, emphasised the need to make the 16-day campaign more effective. 

According to the ministry, the global campaign has been observed since 1991 and runs every year from November 25 to December 10. The Government of Nepal declared November 15 as the National Day against Gender-Based Violence through a cabinet decision on October 27, 2018. This year’s international slogan is ‘Unite to End Digital Violence Against All Women and Girls,’ while the national slogan is ‘Use technology wisely, end gender-based violence.’ Nepal ratified the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) in 1991.