JANAKPURDHAM: At least 48 per cent of Nepali women suffer from at least one form of violence against women (VAW), while 40 per cent of them fall prey to mental violence. The statistics were shared at a discussion programme organised by National Women Commission (NWC) in Janakpurdham today. The rise in the cases of VAW is attributed to the differences in cultural practices wherein a ritual considered sacred in one community is considered superstitious in another, the participants argued. Ill practices, social norms and vices including witchcraft, dowry system and child marriage and the like were also contributing factors leading to VAW, making women further vulnerable and perturbed, they added. On the occasion, Dhanusha Chief District Officer (CDO) ilip Kumar Chapagain stated that forms of VAW were becoming more cruel and heinous due to the deeply entrenched social ill-practices. Similarly, Assistant CDO Danikanta Jha spoke of the need to establish a law university to empower women with legal education and help battle against the discriminatory practices. Likewise, Chief of the Dhanusha District Public Health Office, Sachidananda Dev, argued that various ill practices and traditions, including the Madhu Srawani fasting observed by the women for their husbands, should be bucked to lessen cases of VAW. Other participants including NWC Secretary Lekh Bahadur Karki, women rights activist Punam Chaudhary, District Chairman of Tarai Madhes Democratic Party Parameshwor Sah and Ram Bahadur Karki of Family Planning Association Nepal among others underscored the need for legal provisions ensuring health services to the victim of VAW and other protection.