In the fiscal year 2078/79, Nepal recorded 2,507 cases of rape, with many victims being women and girls. Perpetrators of these crimes include fathers, brothers, husbands, teachers, and other relatives. Calls have been raised for reform in the patriarchal mindset, social structures, and the justice system. On July 27, 2018, 13-year-old Nirmala Pant was raped, murdered, and her body dumped in a sugarcane field. Similarly, on February 3, 2021, 17-year-old teenager Bhagirathi Bhatt was raped, murdered, and her body found in the forest. On September 8, 2082, the deceased body of 16-year-old teen Inisha Bik was discovered in a jungle near Birendranagar; her death was caused by forced rape leading to severe bleeding. In November of the fiscal year 2019–20 alone, eight rape incidents were reported involving victims aged 3, 7, 11, and 13 years old. Those involved in these heinous crimes range in age from 16 to 60 years, and some victims have even been assaulted by their own fathers. These are only the reported cases; many more likely remain hidden.
How can women remain safe from rape? Is any relationship immune? There seems to be almost no age limit, nor respect for relationships anymore. Trust has already been shattered. Whether at home, school, temple, or on the street; whether the perpetrator is a father, brother, lover, or husband—how can a woman close her eyes and trust anyone? Who is truly at fault? Is being born a woman a curse? What further struggles must daughters endure? From the mother’s womb, a daughter fights battles of fate and survival, striving to protect herself from the men of society. The word “man” itself can evoke bitterness. Sometimes it feels as though not all men in society are bad, but the harsh reality is that some men are perpetrators of sexual violence. But again, the question arises—who is at fault in all these rapes?
In our society, where such inhuman, cruel crimes occur frequently, the burden of questioning the victim often falls on women themselves. Questions such as, “Who were you with?” “Why were you walking alone?” “What were you wearing?” “Did you have a boyfriend?” “What kind of work do you do?” These questions imply that blame lies in a woman’s clothing or behavior alone. For instance, when a 40-year-old father repeatedly raped his teenage daughter (in Lalitpur), her wearing short clothes apparently triggered his lust. Numerous studies show that sexual desire alone is not the cause of rape. How can clothing be blamed? How can a profession be held responsible when a doctor—who has pledged to save lives—wears a white apron on duty and is raped and murdered? Yet, some intellectuals still hold illusions that shorter clothing reduces rape incidents.
Today, when a woman is raped by her own father, brother, husband, lover, teacher, or a trusted relative, what sacred relationship remains? Where can she say, “I am struggling”? To whom can she safely reveal, “I am a victim”? In Nepal, on average seven women and girls are raped daily. In the fiscal year 2080/81 alone, there were 2,507 reported cases. These are not just numbers but cries from empty wombs and tears from shattered lives. Rape is not merely physical injury; it is a continuous daily torment of self-respect. How can we comprehend the post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety, and depression experienced by survivors? Our society, instead of healing wounds, only pours salt on them. To have a man claim entitlement to a woman’s body without consent is a moment that destroys life itself. What must be going through the minds of women who endure such violence? What feelings arise when perpetrators roam freely in society?
Nepal’s constitution and the Criminal Code 2074 provide for strict punishments, but these seem ineffective beyond paper. What kind of mindset does a man have who rapes a woman even before she is born? To such individuals, women are not human beings but objects for exploitation. In a society that worships goddesses, why does such brutal violence and the silence around it persist? Where did our society fail? Women who protest against rape often face violence themselves, and some are forced into circumstances that lead them to become offenders. Where are we stuck?
According to the World Health Organization, one in three women experiences sexual violence, yet many cases remain unreported. The pain survivors endure is immense, sometimes to the point they cannot openly cry. Research confirms that sexual desire alone does not cause rape. Patriarchal thinking, male privilege, dehumanization of women, normalization of male dominance, and social structures are the main causes. This highlights the urgent need to reevaluate the social system that glorifies male power. When families have sons and daughters of the same age, sons do not face questioning; daughters are reminded “you are a girl,” supporting patriarchal systems. When mothers instill a sense of duty in daughters but fathers fail to teach responsibility to sons, patriarchal influences deepen.
I envision a society where a woman can walk fearlessly outside her home at 8 p.m. Where a 21 or 22-year-old daughter can leave the house without her mother worrying if her 11- or 12-year-old brother should accompany her. Where a father can send his daughter to and from the bus without questioning whether she is accompanied by a boy or a girl. Is such a society possible? Do we have the right to dream of such change? Hello, government! I am a woman— I have the right to live freely and safely!
