KATHMANDU, SEPTEMBER 18

The amount available with Gender-Based Violence Prevention Fund established under the second amendment to Gender-Based Violence Prevention Fund (Operation) Regulation-2019 is not found to have been properly and adequately utilised.

The regulation stipulates a provision of GBV Prevention Fund at the federal level. The amount received from the Government of Nepal, foreign institutions or governments, and domestic persons or organisations is deposited in the fund. Likewise, international organisations working in Nepal for the interest of women and children are also required to credit a certain percentage of their annual budget to the fund as prescribed by the Ministry of Women, Children and Senior Citizens.

The amount of the dedicated fund should be spent to provide legal aid, psychological treatment and psycho-social counselling services, and rehabilitate GBV victims.

According to a report recently published by the MoWCSC on the present status of women-related laws, the fund had a balance of Rs 68.4 million as of fiscal 2020-21 against expenditure of just Rs 3.44 million to support GBV victims and provide necessary compensation for their rehabilitation.

The report indicates that the amount meant for GBV victims are underutilised. Only 63 victims benefited from the fund during the fiscal 2020-21. According to Women, Children and Senior Citizen Service Directorate under Nepal Police, as many as 14,232 cases of crime against women and children, including rape, attempt to rape, polygamy, child marriage, witchcraft allegations, abortion, untouchability, and domestic violence, were reported in 2020-21.

There is a provision of a seven-member fund operation committee headed by secretary at the MoWCSC to release necessary amount to the district women and children offices concerned. 'The fund was also aimed at ending all forms of discrimination and violence against women and maintaining gender equality by providing the GBV victims special access to opportunity for education, health, employment and social security.

Contrary to this, the utilisation of the fund is not that encouraging,' the report reads. Many women are still not aware of the existence of such a fund for their support due to lack of awareness and adequate publicity of the scheme.

The provincial and local governments may also establish a fund of their own in line with the regulation.