Domestic violence against women in Nepal

Abstract

Your World Report (Feb 16, p 547)1Dhakal S Nepalese women under the shadow of domestic violence.Lancet. 2008; 371: 547-548Summary Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (19) Google Scholar states that Nepalese women generally have low socioeconomic status, making them vulnerable to domestic violence. Despite efforts to increase women's awareness of their rights, amend discriminatory laws, and provide shelters and policewomen's desks for victims, domestic violence continues to grow. Thus, social factors need to address improving women's status, according to the report. However, improving women's status alone might not reduce violence without also addressing men. The problem of men as perpetrators of violence will remain unresolved if the focus stays on women-centred interventions.2Gelles RJ Public policy for violence against women: 30 years of successes and remaining challenges.Am J Preventive Med. 2000; 19: 298-301Summary Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (21) Google Scholar If we are to reduce violence against women, we need to concern ourselves with male offenders in a country where men consider wife-beating their right.3Ministry of Health and Population (MOHP)New Era, Macro International. Nepal demographic and health survey 2006. Ministry of Health and Population, New ERA, Macro International, Kathmandu2007Google Scholar Overall, 21% of Nepalese men accept that a husband “is justified in beating his wife”.3Ministry of Health and Population (MOHP)New Era, Macro International. Nepal demographic and health survey 2006. Ministry of Health and Population, New ERA, Macro International, Kathmandu2007Google Scholar Similarly, men consider that a husband has the right to “get angry and reprimand his wife” (13%), “refuse financial support” (8%), “use force to have sexual intercourse” (5%), and “have sexual intercourse with another woman” (3%) if his wife refuses to have sex. Besides, men hold key decision-making roles for women's health3Ministry of Health and Population (MOHP)New Era, Macro International. Nepal demographic and health survey 2006. Ministry of Health and Population, New ERA, Macro International, Kathmandu2007Google Scholar and are crucial in bringing about changes in women's status. Thus, without working with men, change will be difficult in Nepal. The 1994 Cairo Conference also highlighted the need to involve men in initiatives seeking to improve women's health.4UNFPAA new role for men: partners for women's empowerment. United Nations Population Fund, New York1997Google Scholar Moreover, the experience of developing countries suggests that male participation in reproductive health projects decreases domestic violence.5Schuler SR Gender and community participation in reproductive health projects: contrasting models from Peru and Ghana.Reprod Health Matters. 1999; 7: 144-157Summary Full Text PDF Google Scholar Nepal should include such a strategy to reduce domestic violence. We declare that we have no conflict of interest.