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Nepal too witnesses protests against sexual violence
Like India where death of a young girl after brutal sexual assault has sparked widespread protests, neighbouring Nepal too is witnessing demonstrations against sexual violence. Utpal Parashar reports.
Like India where death of a young girl after brutal sexual assault has sparked widespread protests, neighbouring Nepal too is witnessing demonstrations against sexual violence.
Since Friday dozens of demonstrators carrying placards and banners are shouting slogans and staging sit-in-protests outside the residence of Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai in Kathmandu.
The protesters who include activists, lawyers, journalists, sportspersons, students, businessmen and social workers have also held demonstrations outside Singha Darbar, the official seat of government.
On Saturday evening they organised a candlelight vigil in memory of the Delhi girl who succumbed to her injuries at a Singapore hospital earlier in the day. The protests have forced Bhattarai, who is busy trying to save his chair, promise swift action against perpetrators of violence against women during a meeting with activists.
"As violence against women continues one after another, time has come to say enough is enough. State has continuously failed to protect victims and assure that they get justice," said Dewan Rai, a protester.
The immediate trigger for the protests was the way in which a Nepali migrant worker was robbed of her hard-earned money by the Tribhuwan International Airport officials and later raped by a policeman.
On Thursday, the government decided to compensate the victim with an amount of NRs 1, 50, 000 (R93,750). This infuriated activists who blamed the government of equating sexual violence with money.
