KATHMANDU, MAY 25

Although the policies and programmes pitched by President Ramchandra Paudel have incorporated some positive initiatives, overall policies and programmes are gender-neutral.

A gender perspective study of 2023-24 policies and programmes of the government by Women Rehabilitation Centre (WOREC) has revealed that although policies and programmes were stated for institutionalising gender-responsive governance system, necessary mechanisms, indicators and corresponding programmes for doing so have not been mentioned.

The study highlighted that the constitution itself has ensured Proportional Representation of women, Dalits and marginalised communities. However, in our society, which has a patriarchal social structure, it seems that women's candidacy has decreased in the recent elections due to the prevalence of patriarchal prejudice in political parties and in society. Therefore, it has not been clearly mentioned which policies and programmes will be adopted to ensure proportional representation of women while challenging structural discrimination.

Likewise, due to unequal distribution of power, women and girls have lost the right over their bodies. As a result, incidents of gender-based violence continue to persist in various forms on a daily basis. Even in publicised incidents, the victims of violence have to face various difficulties in obtaining justice.

The study has found that the programmes for controlling, preventing and addressing such incidents were brought only superficially.

In the same way, although it has mentioned that social justice and economic prosperity will be achieved, it has narrowed the scope of social justice.

The policies and programmes have blatantly left the issues concerning the identity of sexual and gender minorities. This has endangered their human rights and social justice.

Particularly, it has ensured the access to quality healthcare and reproductive healthcare for all citizens. A special plan has not been included to address women's sexual and reproductive health due to men's control over women's bodies although arrangements have been made to that end.

Similarly, it has been 17 years after the peace process began.

However, the issue of sexual violence and torture of women by the warring parties during the armed conflict has not yet been addressed. The current policies and programmes state that the issue of peace process and transitional justice will be resolved within the next two years by addressing the overall aspects of truth, justice to the victims and reparation, but it has no concrete plans to address sexual violence against women and girls, reintegration of women involved in war with social justice, addressing the problem of mental abuse, among others.

Likewise, it has pledged that the problems related to citizenship will be solved immediately, but it has not mentioned the ways to do so. Moreover, it has promised that a 24-hour hotline will be arranged to receive the complaints of people who are employed abroad and that they will be included in the social security fund.

But due to various laws related to security, controlling the work and mobility of women continue to persist. It has caused a huge challenge in the social rehabilitation of women who return from foreign employment. However, the state's policies and programmes lack arrangements and solutions for dealing with this issue.

It is also said that the rights of labour will be ensured, but specific procedures covering unorganised sectors are not clearly defined.

Although the study has said it includes positive aspects, the issues of women, sexual and gender minorities, Dalits and other marginalised communities are not specifically included in the policies and programmes.

Although the constitution itself has made special arrangements to bring women and marginalised communities forward, there have been no policies and programmes in accordance with its essence. It appears to be gender-neutral.

The study has suggested that the government address the positive issues covered by the policies and programmes in a gender-friendly manner in the upcoming budget. Otherwise, the policies and programmes will not be able to address the specific issues of women and groups that represent diversity within women. Therefore, such policies and programmes that will be brought along with the vision of a prosperous Nepal with socio-economic transformation in the future must be gender-transformative.

A version of this article appears in the print on May 26, 2023, of The Himalayan Times.