Recent data from WOREC Nepal shows an increase in reported rape cases in the country over the last three months. The existing laws against rape are seen as discriminatory and not in line with human rights standards. In response, the National Alliance of Women Human Rights Defenders is launching a national campaign against rape from September 22nd to December 10th. The campaign aims to raise awareness about sexual violence, increase access to justice for survivors, and demand reforms to laws and policies to better protect women's rights. A series of events and activities will take place throughout districts during the campaign period.

1. 1
Recent nationwide increase
in cases of rape has been a
serious concern. The data
from WOREC Nepal during
the last three months (Baisakh
to Ashar 2070) reports, 149
cases of rape and 14 cases of
attempted rape on women1.
Most of the survivors are
dalit, poor, single women or
young girls.
The people’s movement
of 62/63 aimed for justice,
equality and self-dignity of
every Nepali. However, the
lack of effective laws and
impunity clearly show the
bitter truth that our country is not heading
toward that direction. Lack of access to
justice-socially and legally to the survivors
has compounded the situation.
Existing law against rape is discriminatory.
The existing provisions under the law give
a message that raping certain age and group
of women is less punishable than other.
According to present law, if a person rapes a
girl child of less than 10 years the sentence is
10 to 15 years of custody, 14 to 16 years is 8 to
12 years custody, 16 to 20 years is 5 to 8 years
of custody and the provision of punishment
for raping a woman above 20 years age is 5 to
7 years custody. Although this is not explicit
these provisions accepts rape and make rape
against women above 20 more acceptable and
less punishable. This is totally against human
right norms and principles. Similarly, the 35
days limitation for reporting cases of rape is
infringing on women's right to get justice. This
situation makes it difficult for women to seek
justice. Similarly, the lengthy and complicated
court proceedings add further complication to
the process. This situation has
fostered culture of impunity
and boosted the moral of
perpetrator to complacently
continue the crime. The
condition is unbearable and
demands immediate action
from every concerned citizen
and institutions of the country
to come forward and act
together to end and transform
the situation of violence for
creating a sustainable to peace
in the country.
Focusing on the situation, in
leadership and coordination
of National Alliance of Women
Human Rights Defenders (NAWHRD)
National campaign against rape will be
launched on 22nd of September 2013; this
campaign will start from International peace
day and end on International human right
day-December 10th. This campaign thrives to
make the linkages of human rights and peace
clear and reinforce that without addressing
human rights of women who are 51 percent of
population, achieving human rights for all and
creating sustainable peace is impossible. We
appeal all stakeholders, individuals, activists,
academics, media and people who believe in
human right, social justice and peace to be
part of the National campaign.
Objective of the Campaign:
• To increase existing level of awareness on
sexual violence and create environment
for internalization by every citizen of
the country to understand that sexual
violence is a severe violation of women's
right, which affects women and society
physically, mentally and socially and
creates difficulty for government to fulfill
its due diligence obligations..
Why
National Campaign against Rape?
come and join hands to end sexual violence!!
Don’t miss to be part of the campaign. everyone’s presence and actions counts!!!
1 WOREC Nepal, 2013, August
http://www.worecnepal.org/monthly-report

2. 2
• To increase access to justice both socially
and legally for all survivors of rape.
Demands of the Campaign:
• Immediate enactment of comprehensive,
effective and aligned with human rights
norms and standards new law against
Rape ( in present context bring the new
law by ordinance)
• Establishment of Fast Track Court, and
as temporary measure implement the
supreme court’s decision on continuous
hearing and ensure justice to all survivors
of violence within specific period (one
year)
• Formulation of new victim, gender sensitive
investigation manual for investigation of
cases of sexual violence with clear inbuilt
accountability mechanisms to ensure its
proper and effective implementation.
• Enact with proper allocation of budget
Action as per the state's commitment on
CRC and CEDAW to ensure all the rights
of women and girl children affected by
rape and sexual exploitation.
• Formulation of necessary laws to establish
discrimination or stigmatization of rape
survivors against rape as a social crime and
establishment of necessary legal provisions
to punish the perpetrators involved in such
crime.
• Create proper mechanism to implement
NAP 1325 and 1820 effectively and create
credible base and structures to vent without
any fear of retaliation, stigmatization and
re-victimization for survivors of SV during
conflict
Timeline of the National Campaign:
The campaign will be started on 22nd September
2013 and end on 10th December 2013
Programs/Activities for the campaign:
• September 20 – Media interaction and
appeal/request for solidarity
• September 22 – Commencement of the
Campaign from Shanti Batika at 3 pm
Activities in launch of program:
• Distribution of information materials
against rape
• Cultural awareness program (by Kritika
Campaign and WOFOWON)
• Launch of the campaign by persons from
various sectors of society
September 23 to October 6: Distribution of
information materials at various squares of
Kathmandu
• Demonstration of banners and play cards
• Collaboration with media for information
dissemination on campaign
October 6th: Submission of attention letter to
chairperson of council of ministers via CDOs
of 75 districts
• Dissemination of IEC materials in districts
• Rally
October 24th: Interaction program on
“Increasing women poverty, rape risks, status
of rape in Nepal and the role/responsibilities
of UN agencies to solve the issues” on the
"United Nation Day"
• Interaction program amongst political
parties, government officials and women/
human rights defenders in all districts on
increasing women poverty and status of
rape and its risks.
November 20th: Interaction program
on “Increasing child rape cases” on the
"Universal Children’s Day"
Other activities will follow according to need
and situations!
Coordinated by:
National Alliance of Women Human Rights Defenders (NAWHRD)
Ph. No. +977-01-5529841 Email: secretariat@nawhrd.org
Website: www.nawhrd.org Facebook: www.facebook.com/nawhrd