Disappearances and suffering women in Nepal

Kathmandu, Nepal, February 04 — There are many people, including many women, who are "disappeared" or missing in Nepal. Some NGOs in Nepal operate programs for the disappeared; some human rights organizations operate many small meetings in Kathmandu. Local ethnic groups work with a range of tolerances, from wide to narrow. However, even the reports that come in have different data for those who are disappeared. Some work with simple seminars and others with complex reports; but either way, on the ground, people are still suffering badly.

Women and children have been hurt the most in the face of the many acts of violence, killings, torture and disappearances. One female activist and social worker, Kamal Pandey, said to me: "Disappearances of people due to abduction, kidnapping, and physical violence for political reasons are criminal acts, and here the Nepali criminal justice system has been totally ineffective. Providing full security and protecting the rights of the women and children must be a top priority for any government. I doubt if this has been successfully carried out."

Pandey also warned, "If Nepal fails to develop as a democracy with the rule of law and the protection of people's freedoms, then the likelihood of violence and cases of disappearances will continue. Today, in the name of politics, many crimes have been committed by various politicians. This has got to stop, and a national effort must be carried out, or else a system of totalitarianism or fascism will rise up in Nepal. This is my greatest fear."

A Nepali lawyer from Kathmandu, Dhana Khatri, told me: "When I was not working last month, I would sometimes be given a particularly complex job, over which my local NGO would have a group discussion on how to work on behalf of disappeared people. I don't know if I can handle all the reports and cases of disappearance. Whether or not it's possible, I would like to look around for more work involving disappearances."

My friend Nara has his own story to tell: "Many Nepalese have disappeared. If we insist on suffering, then who will save us? I still think that our politicians might be cheating us. There are many Nepalese wives without husbands who work in low-class jobs; 'work widows' are common in Nepal."

The status of Nepali women can only be raised by providing free high school education and opportunities for higher education, and, later on, opportunities for gainful employment in various fields like business, agriculture, health, and education. Women make excellent teachers, nurses and farmers.

Pandey said, "Look at what the Gramin Vikas program has done for the rural women of Bangladesh. Similar programs must be immediately implemented, providing adequate capital for women to start their own business ventures or cottage industries. This will act as a tremendous tool to uplift Nepali women.

"All Nepali women must enjoy full equality. There should be no gender discrimination, and employment opportunities, reservations, and various outlets must be provided by implementing women-oriented programs. Peace programs are a natural process for bringing about social change. Women, who are the foundation of the Nepali home and family, must not feel that they are being discriminated against, denied security and justice, and prevented from expressing themselves."

Nepal's failed leadership should learn to admire women's inner strength. With the changing political situation, hopefully we will see plans and programs being implemented for women's emancipation and progress, not in words alone, but in action.

Pandey further said, "The three basic solutions that I would recommend are 1) to enhance the criminal justice system by improving training, the budget, infrastructure, and resources; 2) to empower the judicial system, the courts, and law enforcement agencies, like Nepal's police and security forces; 3) to prosecute to the full extent of the law those who break the law, by pursuing a policy of preemption and prevention."

I just hope that Nepal's political parties develop as institutions and not simply parties based on cult personalities.