Gender-based

violence as a
violation of womens
human rights
Presented by Swosti Kharel
What is violence against women?
Violence against women is a persistent and universal problem
occurring in every culture and social group. Around the
world, at least one in every three women has been beaten,
coerced into sex, or otherwise abused in her lifetime most
often by someone she knows, including a member of her own
family, an employer or a co-worker. Violence against women
has been called the most pervasive yet least recognized
human rights abuse in the world. Accordingly, the Second
World Conference on Human Rights in Vienna in 1993 and the
Fourth World Conference on Women in 1994 gave priority to
this issue, which jeopardizes womens lives, bodies,
psychological integrity and freedom. Violence against women
is often known as gender-based violence because it partly
stems from womens subordinate status in society.
Definition
Gender-based Violence: violence involving
men and women, in which the woman/female
is usually the victim and which arises from
unequal power relationships between men and
women. <ILO South East Asia & Pacific
Multidisciplinary Advisory Team, 1998> In other words, its
violence committed in an intimate relationship.
Definition (cont.)
Gender-based violence is violence against women
which includes any act or threat by men or male
dominated institutions that inflict physical, sexual, or
psychological harm on a woman or girl because of
their gender. In most cultures, traditional beliefs,
norms and social institutions legitimize and therefore
perpetuate violence against women.
In depth
Gender-based violence includes physical, sexual and
psychological violence such as domestic violence; sexual
abuse, including rape and sexual abuse of children by
family members; forced pregnancy; sexual slavery;
traditional practices harmful to women, such as honor
killings, burning or acid throwing, female genital
mutilation, dowry-related violence; violence in armed
conflict, such as murder and rape; and emotional abuse,
such as coercion and abusive language. Trafficking of
women and girls for prostitution, forced marriage, sexual
harassment and intimidation at work are additional
examples of violence against women.
In depth (cont.)
Gender violence occurs in both the public and
private spheres. Such violence not only occurs in the
family and in the general community, but is
sometimes also perpetuated by the state through
policies or the actions of agents of the state such as
the police, military or immigration authorities.
Gender-based violence happens in all societies, across
all social classes, with women particularly at risk from
men they know.
Why Women Stay in an Abusive Relationship
She still loves the man despite everything
She is doing it for the children (so as not to have a broken
family)
She cannot support the children by herself
She is afraid of what the husband might do to her.
The husband might take the children
She probably deserves the beating
The man might change for the better
<Womens Legal Bureau>
Barriers to Leaving: Situational

Economic dependence
Fear of greater physical danger/ suffering worse
Fear of emotional damage to children
Fear of losing custody of children
Lack of alternative housing and/or job skills
Social isolation
Acceptable violence
Ties to the community, her home, belongings
Family pressure
Barriers to Leaving: Emotional
Insecurity. Afraid she cant cope
Demolished self-esteem
Denial. Its really not that bad.
Shame
Unfounded hopefulness. Things will get better
Learned helplessness.
Barriers to Leaving: Personal Beliefs
Parenting. Needing a partner to raise kids.
Religious pressure. To keep family together no matter
what.
Duty. I swore to stay married until death do us part.
Belief that marriage is forever
Responsibility. Its up to her to work things out and save
the relationship.
 Instance of Gender-Based violence in Nepal
(fromNov.25.013Dec.7.013)..<inseconline.org>
Date Place Category Verified as Description

Dec. 02 Morang Domestic violence Woman Thrashed by In-laws Sarita Devi Yadav, 18, of Katahari
VDC-2 was beaten when she asked
them to provide her food and
clothing.

Dec.02 Morang Sexual Harassment Hospital Technician Attempts to Molest Technician at the Panchawati
Woman Hospital in Urlabari VDc-2 Manoj
Chaudhary, 35, had tried to molest
a 25-year-old woman of Govindpur
VDC-1 on December 1.

Nov.28 kaski Rape Accused Rapist's Custody Term Extended Shiva Pariyar, 26, of Dhital VDCis
accused of raping a 26-year-old
American woman in Hemja VDC-2
on November 25 after threatening
her while taking her on a tour
Dec.02 Bara Domestic violence Man Arrested For Tormenting Wife Thal Bahadur Bharati,42, of
Dumarwan VDC-4, poured hot
cattle food over her body on
Nov.30. She sustained injuries in
her face and neck.

Dec.01 Dang Attempt to murder Man Arrested To Burn Wife Alive Dal Bahadur Roka,36, of Bijauri
VDC-6 has attemped to set his
wife ablaze on Nov.30. He had
beaten his wife and burn her
with a burning fuel wood in
different parts of her body after
locking her inside the room.
Nov. 30 Baitadi Domestic violence Man Arrested On Charge Of Keshav Sing Bista, 45, of
Beating Wives Satbhaiya in shrikot VDC-7 has
been arrested by the police on
Nov. 29 for beating his wives
Manmati Bista,37, and Kisna
Bista, 35. He was beating them
up in several purposes.
Gender-based violence nullifies the enjoyment of a person's full
human rights and fundamental freedoms, including the:
Right to life;
Right not to be subject to torture or to cruel, inhuman or
degrading treatment or punishment;
Right to equal protection according to humanitarian norms in
time of international or internal armed conflict
Right to equal protection under the law;
Right to equality in the family;
Right to the highest standard attainable of physical and mental
health
Conclusion
In the Interim Constitution 2063, womens rights is
guaranteed as fundamental right and the Domestic
Violence ( offence and punishment) Control Act 2009, is
considered as the major significant legislation to
constitutionally guarantee rights to the women, women
are still victimized and are still suffering.
Similarly strong advocacy and outcry from Human
Rights activist, civil society groups and women rights
activist, Gender- based violence remain widespread in
Nepal and occur with impunity.
Recommendations
Gender-based
violence should be
recognized as the
national issue, not just
a issue concerning
woman.
The focus should be
on strengthening the
mechanism meant for
curving Gender-Based
Violence/ Violence
Against Women.

Thank you.