सार्वजनिक यातायातमा महिला माथि हुने हिंसाकावारेमा नयाँ वहसको थालनी

सार्वजनिक यातायातमा महिला माथि हुने हिंसाकावारेमा नयाँ वहसको थालनी

Public Transportation and Gender Based Violence

Briefing Note: Interaction Program with Policy Makers

Public Transportation and Gender Based Violence (GBV)

June 3, 2011

Organizers: Action Works Nepal and OUTLINE Media Pvt.Ltd.

Introduction: In general, 50% passengers are women. In Public Transportation, women, men and Transgender encountered with various forms of discrimination and violence. However, women are facing and struggling more due to patriarchal, feudal structure and system with us (87% women faced violence in Delhi, 2010, UN women, JAGORI…..).

Forms of discrimination and violence experienced in Nepali context:

1.    Women with bag, kid, disability, student, short heights not able to get on and off as their choice or station

2.    No reserved seats for women, disability, short heights, if provisioned in some cases but not implemented at all

3.    No space for stand at all. No bars, ropes, stands for standing

4.    Not allow to hold two places for standing

5.    Pieces of poems, slogan, statements, stickers, posters, cartoons etc put at door, ceiling, wall etc of the vehicles

6.    Conductors hold strongly at the arms, back, hand while get on/off where there is no need to supposed

7.    The conductor, driver or men passengers make funs, jokes, chat about bed scenes, blue films which are directly focused on sex and sexuality with the reference of women's cloths, structure. Usually following points are come across;

·         Mujhi (refer to private parts)

·         Mother fucking

·         Wow! How beauty, I am dying for such girl friend

·         Sat! what a hard this break like penis during sex

·         Oh! Can I get such a lady by tonight

8. Men passengers, conductors create opportunity e.g. act as fall in sleep for sexual abuse by

·         Touching body parts mainly breast, axilla, ear, back, cheeks etc

·          Pinching/punching

·         Rubbed genital part, erect penis and show aggressiveness, shouted with vulgar words, act like drinking

·         Shouted to women if she try to defense by saying use car !marriage with rich, why did you wear such a sexy dress or looking so sexy

·         Occupy more space in seat by spreading legs

·         Create embarrassing environment by touching genitalia

9. Very limited women driver and conductor or employees

10. The rental rate also claim more, do not or denial to return or need to request to back

11. Unnecessary debate or discussion while women show her identity card for discount if she has with kids, looks simple or adult by saying

·         Do anyone go to college with 2-3 kids?

·         Is it of daughter or mother, ha ha !

·         Oh ! nowadays intellectual go to college at the age 40 years

12. Pick pocketing inside the vehicles, and during get on/off

13. Ask many cross and unnecessary questions while checking by security personnel

14. Making funs, jokes, connect with circus etc to transgender especially male to female (MTF)

Affect/Impact

Short term

·         Extreme Stress

·         Depression

·         Dropping schools/work

·         Denial to go outside home

Long term

·         Low productivity (study, work)

·         Poor quality of life

·         Cost/expenditure increase in case of health related problems

·         Burden for family, society

Current Policies and Practices related to GBV and Public Transportation

1.    Code of conduct for Public Transportation, March 8, 2011

2.    National Plan of Action 1820

3.    GBV unit operationalize through Prime minister's office

4.    + ++ women's right

Media Coverage

1.    New Spotlight (Radha Paudel, October, 2010)

2.    News coverage by ekantipur, Himalayn news while launching code of conduct

Questions for Stakeholders for TODAY?

What should be done: immediately and long run?

Do we have some obligations?

Prepared by:

Radha Paudel,

MDM, MA,MEd,BN

President, Action Works Nepal,

email: rpaudel456@gmail.com,

URL:www.actionworksnepal.org