By Pratibha Tuladhar, dpa
Kathmandu (dpa) - In the Nepalese capital, nearly three hundred demonstrators are gathered outside the prime minister’s residence, huddled against the morning cold.
"We don’t want rapist police!" shouts Sudha Maharjan. "We want justice!" says another.
Every morning for more than two weeks, the crowd has assembled for two hours before dispersing around 11 am to get on with their respective days.
Neither their numbers nor their anger show any sign of abating, inspired by recent demonstrations in neighbouring India against the gang-rape and murder of a student in December, and violence against women more widely.
“Rape is an issue globally,” says Bijaya Subba, a protester. “The recent Delhi protests gave people courage to speak out against it.”
Women in Nepal fare little better than in India, experts say.
Official figures are hard to come by, but women’s organization WOREC says 88 cases of rape, murder, battering, sexual abuse and trafficking were reported in the four weeks from mid November to mid December.
In December, 16-year-old Shiba Hasmi, from south-western Nepal’s Bardia, was burned to death, allegedly by her relatives - now in custody - because of a love affair.
Public outcry over the incident brought to media attention the earlier case of Sita Rai, who on November 21 was allegedly raped by a police officer who offered to help her after she was robbed by airport officials as she returned from Saudi Arabia.
The case sparked an outcry in news and social media, and a group started the daily protests outside the prime minister’s residence. Several officials have been arrested but not charged.
“So many people who have faced violations have joined the protest just to speak out,” says Bidushi Dhungel, a journalist.
The demonstrations and their media coverage appear to have increased awareness of violence against women, with three cases of burning and more than 10 of rape - including two against minors - reported in the press this week.
“The cases wouldn’t have surfaced in the media if it wasn’t for the protests,” Dhungel says.
Some protesters are demanding a fast-track court and stronger laws to deal with rape cases. Others say the legislation is not the problem.
“The problem isn’t our laws, but the fact that they do not get implemented,” says Aman Maharjan, a law student and a demonstrator.
“Impunity is institutionalized and if there is money and power, people can get away with anything,” says Mandira Sharma, a lawyer and rights activist.
Dhungel agrees, saying there is no effective legal recourse because "criminals are backed by politicians."
Some blame Nepal's current caretaker government, paralyzed by the suspension of parliament, for the lack of action at legislative level.
Others say the country's entrenched patriarchy plays down violence against women.
“If there were more women in the political process, the likelihood of resolving the problem would be way higher,” Dhungel says.
Although Nepal reserves a third of its parliamentary seats for women, all top leadership positions are held by men.
Women victims of violence also have to confront a tradition that considers speaking out against their aggressors as shameful.
“There is this feeling that women shouldn’t complain because it is a matter of prestige,” explains Mohna Ansari, Nepal’s first female Muslim lawyer and member of a Gender-based Violence Monitoring Team formed by the government in the wake of the protests.
Women who speak up about being raped can be labelled as "seeking attention," she adds.
"I feel worried that people will accuse me of getting into a situation like this," Sita Rai told BBC Nepali Radio. "People won’t understand," she said, adding that she underwent an abortion after the rape.
Uma Devi Adhikari is the mother of domestic worker Saraswati Subedi, who was allegedly sexually abused and killed by her employers.
Adhikari was encouraged to speak out for her daughter by the recent demonstrations and media coverage.
"I do not want money, I want justice for my daughter," she said.
Adhikari has rejected the autopsy's verdict of suicide, saying the evidence had been tampered with. The family says they are under pressure from the employers to accept money and withdraw their case.
With an increasing number of cases emerging, people say they are furious the government isn’t acting faster.
“No institutions are working accountably,” says Sharma. "Police don’t do basic work like registering or investigating, instead they use their power to pollute and manipulate evidence."
“The basic rule of law is missing.”
Ansari's team is to present its report on violence against women on Sunday.
“We might not be able to change laws but making sure these families get access to a full investigation and legal recourse is something that can be done, if there is will on the part of political actors,” she says.
Rai says she wants her rapist to be punished but that she also wants to be left in peace. "May this never happen to anyone else."
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