Call for changing attitudes towards women

Kathmandu, February 2

With rapid urbanisation across the country, women are increasingly becoming vulnerable to various forms of violence. Hence, we need to change our attitudes towards women from our homes and community to create safer cities for them, said speakers at an interaction programme today.

Speaking at a consultative workshop on safe cities for women and girls organised by district development committees of Kathmandu and Bhaktapur, Actionaid, Homenet Nepal and Safe Cities for Women Nepal Campaign, Local Development Officer of Kathmandu Tirtha Raj Bhattarai stressed on developing a common work plan to build safer cities.

“Our plans in the past were very ambitious and hence they could’t succeed. So we need to prepare realistic plans to create safer cities for women and girls,” he said. He also underscored the need to change our attitudes towards women so that they can enjoy equal respect in society.

“If we change our attitudes towards our mothers, sisters and wives, societal attitudes towards women will also change. This will gradually help us build safer cities for women and girls,” he added.

Jagannath Lamichhane, executive officer of Nagarjun Municipality said, “Women and girls are discriminated against in their own homes. So how can we expect them to get the same respect in society? Our religions also discriminates against women and girls.” He stressed on boosting the confidence of women and girls by removing social and cultural barriers to their personal development.

Nila Kumari Ghimire, women development officer at Bhaktapur Municipality, stressed the need for raising collective voice against violence against women. “We should have zero tolerance against harassment or violence against women and girls,” she said, adding, “If we do not speak today, we would be the next victim.”

According a baseline study conducted by Actionaid, Homenet Nepal and Safe Cities for Women Nepal in major cities such as Kathmandu a couple of years back, nine out of ten women experienced sexual harassment in public places. Fifty per cent of the respondents said they faced sexual harassment once a week.

It also said that the younger girls were at higher risk of sexual harassment. The girls aged between 15 and 20 were more prone to sexual harassment and violence, the study said. It said that in case of educated women, the risk was more because of their mobility for work, education and other opportunities.