‘The commission is completely under the shadow of patriarchy’

Mohna Ansari on working as a member of the National Human Rights Commission, the body’s failure to make bold changes and the rising number of rape cases in the country.

Born in a humble Muslim family in Nepalgunj in Banke district, Mohna Ansari is the first woman lawyer from her community. She was appointed as a member of the Women Commission in 2010, thus becoming the first Muslim woman to be in a leadership role at any constitutional commission. She became a member of the National Human Rights Commission in 2014 and is retiring in two weeks completing her six-year tenure. Binod Ghimire from the Post talked to Ansari about her time at the commission and her future plan. Excerpts: