‘Nepal appears progressive, but there hasn’t been any shift on status of women’

Last month, when the Department of Immigration introduced a proposal , which would restrict women under 40 from travelling to Africa and the Middle East for the first time by requiring family’s permission and ward office’ approval, activists protested against the proposals outside the department. Subsequently, a protest rally (women’s march) against the proposal as well as for demanding an end to violence against women and impunity was organised. First initiated by Yogmaya Neupane against the oppressive rules of the Rana regime imposed on women about a century ago, the women’s rights movement in Nepal has just reached this stage today.

However, Renu Adhikari, a veteran women’s rights activist in Nepal, thinks the movement also has taken a big leap over these years. But, referring to several challenges, she says, “There still has not been a fundamental shift on the status of women in Nepal.” In a conversation with Onlinekhabar on the occasion of Women’s Day, Adhikari talked about the achievements, challenges, and opportunities of women’s movements in Nepal.