KATHMANDU, DECEMBER 5
During national consultation on the draft report to the 90th session of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) Committee here today, it was highlighted that Muslim women's issues were excluded from the CEDAW report.
As Nepal prepares for the upcoming 90th session of CEDAW, scheduled from February 3 to 21, 2025, in Geneva, where eight countries, including Nepal, will be reviewed, it is expected to submit a List of Issues (LOIs) by January, addressing challenges faced by Muslim women.
The LOIs submitted to the committee in 2024 did not include issues related to Muslim women and girls.
"The issues of Muslim women and girls in the draft report were identified during the provincial consultation," stated Tanuja Basnet.
The last concluding observation highlighted human rights issues faced by Nepali Muslim women and girls. It noted that the government's seventh periodic report failed to report any specific progress regarding these issues.
However, Civil Society Organisations' (CSOs) submissions for the LOIs included a few key issues, such as legal aid, representation in all sectors, multiple forms of discrimination, and child marriage.
CEDAW's 2018 report emphasised concerns such as low school enrolment rates and divorce among Muslim women and recommended addressing these issues.
Meanwhile, Seraj Ahmad Farooqui, a lawmaker from CPN-UML speaking at the program shared, "Becoming a proud citizen is the first priority of every citizen."
He further said, "There is an error in data collection regarding issues in Muslim society. Divorce is often regarded as a disgraceful act in certain segments of Muslim culture."
Presenting the existing laws and policies in Nepal to protect the rights of Muslim women and girls and the key areas for reformation, advocate Sharmila Shrestha said, "Muslim women are extremely marginalised and deprived of their basic rights. "Data on maternal and child death rates are inaccurate. They should be recorded by community, as the rates are significantly higher among Muslim and Dalit populations."
She added, "Unsafe abortion rates are also disproportionately high among Muslim women, often involving the use of medically unrecognised substances. Moreover, many Muslim women lack awareness about prenatal and postnatal services and check-ups."
Shrestha further stated that Nepal's legal system should recognise the Madrasa education system, as many individuals who completed their education in Madrasas are not eligible to compete in government sectors.
Bharati Silwal Giri, speaking at the opening session of the National Consultation on the Draft Shadow Report prepared by the Nepal Muslim Women Welfare Society to be submitted to the CEDAW Committee, remarked, "The term 'religious minority' should be challenged, as it implies discrimination rather than representation."
She added, "The right to representation and political participation must also be ensured. There should be quotas for Muslim women at the federal, provincial, and local levels, including in public service."
