KATHMANDU, FEBRUARY 12
Hundreds of women rights activists and their supporters rallied in Kathmandu today to call for an end to violence and discrimination against women and the scrapping of a proposed law that would restrict travel for many women.
The protesters marching in the heart of the capital city chanted slogans demanding equality. Activists say even though the country's constitution guarantees equal rights to women, there is much more that needs to be done to make that a reality.
They point to the proposed law that would require women under age 40 to get permission from their families and local government to travel abroad as a violation of human rights. The government has said the regulation would help stop human trafficking, but has pointed out it is just a proposal and not a law.
The protesters tried to march to the prime minister's office but were blocked by riot police and barbed wire barricades.
There were no clashes or violence. Reshu Aryal, a rights activist in the rally, said she wanted to protest what she saw as police and official indifference to discrimination and sexual violence against women and girls.
A version of this article appears in the print on February 13, 2021, of The Himalayan Times.
