Women are more vulnerable to violence from relatives: Nepal Police report
KATHMANDU: Women in the country are highly vulnerable to violence, particularly from relatives and kin, who account for up to 91 percent of sexual violence cases against women, according to data from Nepal Police.
The findings were highlighted in the annual report of the Nepal Police Headquarters, released today, marking the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence.
The report also points to an alarming rate of domestic violence, emphasizing the urgent need to build safer homes and supportive families for women.
Superintendent of Police Basundhara Khadka from the Crime Investigation Department presented the findings, detailing the facts surrounding violence against women.
Inspector General of Police Dan Bahadur Karki noted that while cases of violence against women are rising, so is the number of survivors reporting incidents to authorities, including the police. “Women have started breaking the silence about the violence they face,” he said.
Police Chief Karki stressed the need for combined efforts to address the issue, expressing concern over the growing number of cases. He added that neither educated nor uneducated individuals are immune from committing or experiencing violence.
The report also suggests that increased use of information technology has contributed to the rise in cases, and police efforts alone are insufficient to combat the problem. Economic hardship and financial dependence, he noted, further discourage survivors from seeking justice.
Nepal Police currently provides services to women, children, and senior citizens through 260 units across the country, Karki added.
Under Secretary Kabita Aryal of the Department of Health Services said no woman, regardless of age or geographic location, is untouched by violence. She added that only 28 percent of survivors have approached authorities for support, highlighting that silence surrounding violence remains a serious concern.
Officials from various government bodies, including Milan Bhattarai from the Ministry of Women, Children and Senior Citizens, Meena Aryal from the Ministry of Home Affairs, and Roshani Devi Karki of the National Women Commission, echoed the urgency of collective action to combat violence against women.
Karki also stated that hostility toward survivors remains a significant challenge in delivering justice. She highlighted the National Women Commission’s “Let’s Report 1145” hotline, which has been operating for years to respond to cases of violence, and emphasized the need for survivor-centered service approaches.