Justice For Rihana

Can you imagine a situation where someone is setting fire on you? In my case, I can't just think about it, I get goose bumps when I only tend to put myself in that situation. And it's more heart aching when it's from that person, who has promised to take care of you as his wife. 19 years old Rihana Sheikh Dhapali from Banke had to face the same trauma. Let us not put of our brains on exercise for guessing the reason. It was on such a trivial reason, that's for not bringing a golden watch, motorcycle and buffalo as dowry.

It has become more than a century that we are celebrating 'International Women's Day and right activists are advocating the protection of the women's rights globally; the status of women in Nepal is still very pathetic. Rihana, is the recent example but she is not the only one to face it.  Violence against women is increasing at an alarming rate. According to the report unveiled by Informal Sector Service Centre (INSEC), of the cases of violence against women reported in the country in 2013, most of them were related to the domestic violence. 1, 569 women became victims to domestic violence in the year 2013.  Among them also, 108 were killed by the members of their in laws for not bringing dowry. Also, there are several reports on incidences of violence against women including suicide and the murder and different cases of violence which remain unnoticed. These violence cases are unheard.

The UN Declaration on the Elimination of Violence against Women, 1993 has mentioned that; violence against women is a manifestation of historically unequal power relations between men and women, which have led to domination over and discrimination against women by men and the prevention of the full advancement of women. And in the context of Nepal, among the various causes of domestic violence, dowry-related hostilities, polygamy, assaults on women accused of being witches and disputes involving properties are common according to National Women Commission. In most of the cases, the perpetrators are no stranger to the woman but a member of her own family, from which we can lead to the conclusion that even the home is not a safe place for women.

It's not the case that Nepal has not made any laws on it. Nepal acceded to the convention against Torture and other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment on 14 May 1991. Article 26 of the 2007 Interim Constitution of Nepal guarantees the right to be free from torture and mandates that torture should be punishable by law. But if we closely analyze the present Act on Domestic Violence, we can find several challenges. However, there are problems with the reporting and filing of the cases since there are several instances where oral complaints were not registered or filed. Even when they are filed, the failure of the state authorities to react to criminal cases as prescribed by law and resorting to 'mediation' processes outside the criminal justice system contributes to widespread impunity for the perpetrators; is increasing the prevalence of violence against women and girls across the Nepali society.

Apart from lacunas, there are some good jobs also. We must not overlook the good examples on ending violence against women. Different worthy activities are accomplished to break the silence relating violence and to ensure justice to the victims. So, now we must find the loop hole, where is it lacking and what must be done to cover it? There must be something important that we are missing in the process of advocacy. Let's find it together. And at this moment Rihana wants the justice. She wants to see her culprit, that is her spouse and in-laws arrested and punished, whom the police haven't been able to. Let us make sure that we would not have to hear the news of another Rihana on hospital. Elie Wiesel says, "There may be times when we are powerless to prevent injustice, but there must never be a time when we fail to protest." Let us go for it. For this, we are not obliged to be a women right activist or we should be her family members, we are all human and we have sisters and for our sister's sake let's make such environment where we can make ensure the safety of our daughters, sisters, wives and mothers. It would be the true justice for Rihana. 

Published in Republica 05/18/2014 http://www.myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=75024