Executive Summary

With an objective of reducing domestic violence (DV) Sancharika Samuha (SAS), Saathi, IHRICON, LACC and Breakthrough Institute launched “Kadam Badhaun” a Collaborative Campaign against Domestic Violence on 1 September 2014 in Lalitpur. Ms Onsari Gharti Magar, Deputy Speaker of the Constituent Assembly was the chief guest. Other guests included Additional Inspector General of Nepal Police Surendra Bahadur Shah, Chief of Crime Investigation Department;  Mr Yagya Prasad Adhikari, representative of National Human Rights Commission (NHRC); Ms Bandana Rana, President of Saathi; Ms Shashi Adhikary, President of Legal Aid and Consultancy Centre (LACC); Mr Kapil Kafle, Director of IHRICON, and Advocate Mr Sabin Shrestha. There were 50 total participants in the program.

Ms Nirmala Sharma, President of SAS, welcomed all the guests and participants and highlighted on the objective of the programme. She said that the aim of the collaborative campaign was to sensitize the media for the reduction in DV through investigative reporting and covering the news. She further added that this was a pilot campaign in 4 VDCs (Titihiriya, Sitapur, Shemsherjung and Naubasta) of Banke District. Ms Bandana Rana, briefed about the overall campaign. Ms Shashi Adhikary said that mobile legal aid clinic would be organized. Mr Kapil Kafle said that Video Van could be an effective tool to raise awareness. Public service announcements and radio jingles produced by SAS in the course of the campaign was also shown during the launching of the campaign.

Mr Sabin Shrestha said that victims had become reluctant to lodge complaint because of personal safety in the aftermath of filing complaints.  Such a situation had further been victimizing women.  Mr Yagya Prasad Adhikary suggested for collaboration with government agencies in order to reduce DV. Mr Surendra Bahadur Shah said that   people still hesitate to lodge complain against perpetrator as there is no security for witness and victims. Ms Ms Onsari Gharti Magar said that intensive social movement was imperative for the reduction in DV. She also blamed the ineffective implementation of the existing laws for unabated DV against women.