women violence an issue of debate in Nepal

Kathmandu Nepal: In a severe case of women violence a four month pregnant woman named Maina Bardewa Bhitrikoti (22) was burnt alive on Monday by her in-laws family members in Morang.
Maina was severely beaten up by her family members in a tussle against the disagreement of her relationship with her migrant worker husband. Things got out of control when her family members burnt her alive on a stack of hay in a rice field near her house reports the police.

A FIR has been launched against the in laws of Maina by her immediate parents. Police have detained six persons‚ including Maina’s husband Prithvi‚ and four other members of her in-laws’ family and two others who were guests at Prithvi’s home. Prithvi has already pleaded guilty.

The Himalayan Times quotes, “Maina of Itahara was married to Prithvi about two years ago. Prithvi had returned from Qatar eight months ago. It is learnt that relations between Maina and her husband and family had started to sour about a year ago after she suffered a miscarriage.”

Domestic Violence (Crime and Punishment) Act, 2066 (2009)  clearly defines, “Domestic Violence means any form of physical, mental, sexual and economic harm perpetrated by person to a person with whom

He/she has a family relationship and this word also includes any acts of reprimand or emotional harm. A person who commits an act of domestic violence shall be punished with a fine of Three Thousand Rupees up-to Twenty Five Thousand Rupees or Six months of imprisonment or both.”

Recently The 57th session of the Commission on the Status of Women that focused on Elimination and prevention of all forms of violence against women and girls certainly advocates cases like these. Though NGOs and INGOs catering such issues are limited in seminars and conference abroad, ground reality of Nepal highlights severe cases of human rights atrocities.

Due to lack of awareness and education, women of Nepal are bound to suffer the consequences of women violence every day. Nepal lack proper polices but most importantly its people are unaware of the laws present. Everyday hundreds of Maina’s are exploited in Nepal which needs to be overcome by better illiteracy and heightened women awareness programs where the government is silent about the issue.