They are facing increasing threats and attacks!
Women’s Rehabilitation Centre (WOREC), a national women’s organisation, has records of over 40 WHRDs reporting violations including threats on their life and assaults due to their work in 2008! Concerned about growing violence against WHRDS, WOREC organised a national consultation of WHRDs in Kathmandu in November 2008.
WOREC’S consultation with Human Rights Defenders on 29-30 November in Kathmandu included more than 200 Women Human Rights Defenders representing various districts and working in different institutions in Nepal. Many women activists present shared that they face harassment, intimidation, and violence because of social taboos against raising discriminatory social practices. Women at the grassroots are on the frontline of combating violence as they challenge feudal practices and face the most direct threats including beatings; lethal threats and even death. Women defenders highlighted that as they become more vocal, building on new political space to discuss discrimination, they fear a backlash without any protective mechanisms in place to support their work.
Rita Mahato is a 30-year old health counsellor with the Women’s Rehabilitation Centre (WOREC) in Nepal, an organisation defending the rights of women and Dalits please describe who they are. In June 2007, men from her community who objected to WOREC’s work attacked the office in Siraha and threatened Rita Mahato with rape and death. Police failed to investigate the incident. She continued to face death threats in 2008.
