Kathmandu:
The Kathmandu Metropolitan City has announced that it will not organize artificial or staged programs for gender violence awareness. Instead, it will continue to implement ongoing, regular annual programs as outlined in its policies. The announcement was made by spokesperson Navin Manandhar in a press release just before the start of the 16-day campaign against violence on women.
In the statement, the Metropolitan City emphasized its commitment to protecting vulnerable children through its “Protect Childhood, Secure Future” initiative. This program provides rescue, temporary shelter, health care, legal support, and educational opportunities for children at risk, including those working in domestic labor, the transportation sector, and victims of sexual exploitation. The release also highlighted the difficulty of receiving adequate cooperation from relevant government agencies and officials, stating that conducting superficial campaigns during the 16-day period would be morally inappropriate.
The release clarified, “This year, the Kathmandu Metropolitan City will not conduct any specific activities related to the 16-day campaign, but we will continue our annual gender violence programs as part of our ongoing commitment.”
Programs Already in Place
Kathmandu Metropolitan City has been working at the community level to prevent gender-based violence through policies, procedures, and programs. Some of these include the Gender Violence Prevention Fund (2078), the Human Trafficking and Smuggling Procedure (2078), and the Women’s Network Formation and Operation Procedure (2079). Additionally, the city has introduced the Child Protection and Child Welfare Procedure (2080).
Under these procedures, public transport, hotels, restaurants, and hostels are monitored for child labor, and studies are conducted on children living outside their families. As a result, 51 children, including 24 boys and 27 girls, were rescued in the first phase. Among them, 24 children were reunited with their families, while others received long-term care, including education and health services. A second phase has rescued 12 more children.
At the ward level, women’s networks are playing a critical role in monitoring and controlling instances of violence.
The statement also addressed the different nature of violence across economic, social, and political contexts, noting that both men and sexual minorities are also victims of violence. It emphasized the importance of recognizing the types of behavior and speech that constitute violence in domestic and social relationships, enabling victims to seek legal remedies.
Kathmandu Metropolitan City has committed to continually working towards eliminating gender-based violence as a significant obstacle to social development and human progress. The city aims to raise awareness and foster a more inclusive and safe environment for all its residents.
