Nepal – Women In The Peace & Political Processes – UNIFEM
Author: Womens UN Report Network
Date: June 26, 2006
UNIFEM South Asia
Gyanendra gave up his direct rule in April following mass uprising in Nepal,
lack of women in the ongoing peace talks between the country’s new interim
government and the Maoist insurgents has been causing serious disturbance among
the Nepalese women and girls. Chandni Joshi, South Asia regional director of
United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM), spoke to IRIN about the
situation of Nepalese women during her visit in the capital, Kathmandu.
QUESTION: How do you see the role of women in the ongoing peace process?
ANSWER: It is an opportunity for both the peace process and country to
have participation of women. If they are not made to participate, it is not a
peace process at all. If you look at any country in transition – in Somalia,
Rwanda, East Timor, Afghanistan or Sri Lanka – the women are actively involved
in non-violent acts and holding the nation together. But whenever it comes to
peace processes and reconstruction, women are completely forgotten.
We should not let that happen in Nepal. If women – who make up 50 percent
of the population – have suffered the same way as Nepalese men, then they have
equal responsibilities. It is a failed opportunity for the country not to have
women in the process.
Q: What is UNIFEM doing to increase women’s participation in peace and
political processes?
A: Last year we had a meeting with women from 57 districts [Nepal has 75
districts] to talk about their concerns. They came up with a 10-point
declaration, which we are making sure that this is now part of the peace
process. We met all the political parties last week with the grassroots women to
say that we don’t want women to be left out of the large processes.
Q: Have the rights of women been strongly advocated in Nepal?
A: Whenever you talk about rights of women and laws, you have to consider
how much they do get implemented for those you advocate for. We strictly pay
attention to awareness and laws among the people, especially the right holders
as well as the law enforcement agencies like the lawyers, advocates of justice,
judiciary system.
But those beneficiaries asking for the rights and laws are the ones who
have to be aware of. Training women about their rights is very important. Just a
handful of them know what their rights are. The question is how do you get
information across to the majority of women in grassroots communities and even
those in urban situations who are not mobile.
Q: Is the situation still dismal for women in Nepal?
A: Recognition of women as part of the society, nation and family is very
important. Women are helping to develop our economy. They are bringing in huge
remittances by working abroad. They also work in the farms and households. But
they are not counted for their contribution. We are not looking at their
significant contributions. It is in our own mindset that leads us to think that
women cannot lead the nation despite many qualified Nepalese women.
There should be a meaningful representation of women in every sector
including the peace and political process. The women have the capacity to bring
concerns of excluded people, bringing up voices of women who have been
vulnerable and exploited. You have to bring in more people who can raise these
issues.
Q: Why are Nepalese women lagging behind their counterparts in other
countries even at South Asian level?
A: We are still suffering from the mindset that of discriminating women.
There are women going for global meetings, international forums and general
assemblies where they make excellent impressions. But why are they not given
chances in their own country? At the grassroots ground level, it is the same
story. Their roles have been doubling and tripling at both household and
community levels due to the difficult situation that the country has gone
through.
Look at what she has to do even at home front. She is also doing the
men’s work. Are we doing anything to change that? If we don’t have the means,
information and technology to reduce her time and tragedy, how do you expect
women to develop? She needs to sleep. She is the first one to wake up and last
one to sleep. She has to feed not only for the family but also the cattle and
has to clean the house and cowshed.
Q: Did the conflict make it worse for women?
A: Man-made or natural disasters have always made women more vulnerable.
We go on expecting more and more. That has to change. We have to look at where
the gaps are. We cannot just blame illiteracy or poverty for lack of women’s
development. There are other issues like discrimination and subordination. There
are not merely cultural reasons but social taboos both inside and outside the
house.
Q: What are UNIFEM’s key priorities?
A: In a nutshell, we work for human rights of women and their security.
In order to achieve that, we have to look at all international standards and
regional bindings that we have been able to agree on. Then, we should look at
feminisation of poverty. Our definition of poverty is not just income related
but discrimination, subordination and exclusion. We also look at eradicating
violence against women, including human trafficking and HIV/AIDS and how you
reverse their impact on women and girls. Of course, our larger goal is good
governance.
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