Human rights activists under threat of attacks

Makawanpur, February 8

Human rights activists have claimed that those fighting violence against women were increasingly under threat of attacks by the perpetrators.

Arati Pathak, a human rights activist, said, “We are fighting violence against women with no ill-intention and our only motive is to help the victims get justice. However, we are under increasing threat of attacks. Sometimes we even get life threats,” she said.

Maya Lama, who works for Makawanpur branch of Maiti Nepal, also echoed Pathak. “Rape also dents self-dignity of the victim deeply. Although the victims get justice, there is a negative attitude associated with rape and discrimination against the victim in society causing a long term physical and psychological effects on the victim and her family as well,” she said.

Mother of a six-year-old girl in Hetauda was raped by her school teacher recently and now she is finding it difficult to fight and live in society due to the community’s negative attitude towards her. “The incident has made life difficult for my daughter and the entire family,” she said.

According to data from the DPO, 33 rape cases were filed in the district in the fiscal  2016/17.