Women's Right to Citizenship in Nepalese Context

Abstract

Gender equality is the basis of a civilized and developed society. However, the reality before us in Nepal is that women have not only been denied of the opportunity to equality for ages but deprived of various opportunities to basic human rights owing to gender discrimination based different social, economic and cultural roles of men and women in the society. As a result, even if men and women are born equal the equality is limited on different ways. Article-13 of Interim Constitution states that all citizens shall be equal before the law, provided that there shall not be discrimination among citizens on grounds of religion, race, caste, tribe, gender, origin, language or ideological conviction. But it is not being practically implemented. In context of Nepal, women are suffering from violence, harassment, discrimination, exclusion, which is a gross human right violation of theirs. Discrimination hampers the growth and prosperity of society and family. Their right identity and to live freely without discrimination have been violated. An ideal society requires an environment where each human individual can exercise his or her freedoms without fear and want. Women's rights are part of human rights and gender justice is integral to social justice. Definitely, women are inevitable complement of human society and it cannot be imagined of a society without the existence of women. The author tries to analyze the citizenship rights of woman in various international instruments especially focusing in Nepalese provisions and dealing the shortcomings in the implementation.