National Alliance of Women Human Rights Defenders in coordination with the National Anti-Rape Campaign completed its first phase of the National Anti-Rape Campaign here on Sunday in Kathmandu.
The campaign was launched from September 22 to curb crimes against women. Women rights activists voiced that rape cases are increasing due to carelessness of the administration in following the case and the police which fails to provide timely results. The rights activists have also demanded stronger laws to recognize discrimination against rape victims as social offence, penalty for perpetrators, guarantee of right to study and health service to victims of rape and sexual violence. They have also demanded that the 35-day limit for lodging first information report (FIR) against the accused be amended to ensure that victims get a fair chance to lodge complaints and culprits don’t roam free.
According to Women’s Rehabilitation Centre Nepal’s statistics, “264 cases of rape and 43 cases of attempted rape were recorded in the past six months. Most of the victims are Dalits, poor, single women and young girls. Some of the key demands of the campaign are immediate amendment (through ordinance) to the existing rape law, formation of a fast-track court and immediate verdicts to victims through a continuous hearing process, drafting directives for Nepal Police to make investigation into rape cases sensitive and effective.”
