Kathmandu, April 22

Women’s Rehabilitation Center, a non-government organisation working for the protection and promotion of women’s rights and social justice today said that it documented a total of 131 Violence Against Women cases in the month of Chaitra (mid March-mid April).

A press statement issued by WOREC here today said of the total, 26 cases were documented from various national dailies while others were recorded from their regional offices in various districts.

It said the highest 53 per cent of VAW cases were recorded in the Tarai, followed by 31 per cent in the hills and 16 per cent in the mountains.

On the basis of types of violence, 35 per cent of women and girls were subjected to physical assault, while 30 per cent of them were tortured mentally, reads the statement.

It said 17 per cent of them were rape victims. Likewise, eight per cent of women suffered from denial of resources or opportunities, five per cent of them were murdered and three per cent of women and girls suffered from sexual abuse.

It stated that the relationship between the victim and perpetrators shows a shocking result where husbands were the alleged perpetrators in 51 per cent of the VAW cases.

Other perpetrators were neighbors (17 per cent), family members (13 per cent), friends (4 per cent), teachers (1 per cent) and others (14 per cent).

“The nation is witnessing a number of incidents related to sexual abuse, rape and violence against women in the recent times raising a question about the safety of women and girl children in Nepal,” it said.

“The data shows that women and girls are subjected to different forms of violence in our society,” it said, adding, “Until and unless these issues are addressed by concerned authorities and appropriate actions are taken, women and girls cannot live a dignified life.”