Women empowerment helps reduce VAW: Deputy Speaker Ranamagar

Kathmandu, Nov 25: Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Indira Ranamagar, has said women empowerment helps reduce violence against women and girls. Once the equality and respect among women and men are practiced from the very early age, it counts much building just and equal society, according to her.

Deputy Speaker Ranamagar said it while inaugurating the annual programme- the 16 Day Activism against Violence against Women (VAW) – organized by the National Women Commission here Tuesday. The respect among each other is instrumental in reducing VAW, she said, adding that massive public awareness is imperative to reduce violence against women and girls in the digital sphere.

Ranamagar, however, said, “Only the talks on VAW are not enough but empowerment together to minimize VAW in practice. Only campaign does not count, but unity among women is imperative. Empowerment of women, development of women-friendly infrastructures and women’s representation in decision making level are some of the effective measures to this end.”

Superintendent of Police, Basundhara Khadka, viewed courage, solidarity and collective initiatives are helpful in curbing VAW. “Police’s efforts are insufficient as the VAW cases are rising sharply. Social networking sites are rife with VAW cases. A new approach is necessary to combat this problem,” she underlined.

According to her, Nepal Police had received as many as 18,926 VAW complaints in the fiscal year, 2081/2082BS.

Psychiatrist Dr Basudev Karki viewed time has come to make digital technology a sanitized and rational space so that social and mental harms caused and flared up by digital platforms would subside.

Cyber expert Abhijit Gupta viewed digital literacy is a measure for reducing VAW on cyber space.

A campaigner associated with Gen Z movement alliance, Monika Niraula, viewed technology has both positive and negative aspects, so not only women but also those with different identity (beyond male and female) are at the receiving end of negative use of technology.

The International 16 Day Activism against VAW launched today will continue till December 10.