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ASIAN HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION – URGENT APPEALS PROGRAMME
Urgent Appeal Case: AHRC-UAC-153-2009
http://www.ahrchk.net/ua/mainfile.php/2009/3312
13 November 2009
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NEPAL: Police fail to charge those who accused a Dalit woman of witchcraft and forced her to eat human excreta
ISSUES: Violence against women; caste; discrimination; police inaction
Need to eliminate social malpractice
Post Report
KATHMANDU, June 26 : The need to challenge and monitor the social and religious norms of the country in order to eliminate the discriminatory laws and practices of the society was stressed by various legal experts at an interaction programme organised by the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) here today. Pointing out the backwardness and ill practices like domestic violence and girl trafficking rampant in the country, legal experts and social workers highlighted legal and social consequences of such malpractice in the country.
Legal experts like advocates Sapana Pradhan Malla and Santosh Giri presented case studies of those women who are the victims of either traditional or superstitious beliefs like witchcraft and social malpractice like girl trafficking and domestic violence that have ruined not only their lives but also of their kith and kin.
“The problem today is that though such victimized women have come out to seek legal assistance, there are no clear provisions under which law we can file the case”, said advocate Santosh Giri. According to him, such superstitious beliefs like the witchcraft can be tackled only through medical training to traditional faith healers or Dhami Jhakris.
Lawyer Sapana Pradhan Malla said that with the on-going conflict and war in the country, women have become the victims of insecurity and poverty. “Women’s movement should be strengthened and the law and the society should go together in taking the initiatives,” she said.
The experts also discussed in detail the problem of girl trafficking despite government and non-governmental organisation’s initiative to curb trafficking in girls.
Code of conduct against witchcraft made public [ 2007-7-30 ]
By Sachin Pokharel
ITAHARI, July 29: A code of conduct has been formed and made public against witchcraft, a superstition that is still in practice in different regions of the nation and tortures meted out in the name of witchcraft.
The code of conduct was formed with the initiation of civil society and victims of the evil practice in Itahari district recently.
The code was introduced with the participation of people who were victimized, women, witchdoctors and social workers at a public hearing organised by Society Nepal, an NGO. The code was announced after a wide discussion with the stakeholders and it would be implemented instantly, the organisers said.
The witchdoctors involved in such kind of practice and torture had also expressed commitment that they would implement the code of conduct to control the social menace completely.
Initially, many people were tortured in the name of witchcraft, but now onward no one would be troubled, said Achyut Narayan Chaudhary known as Adheri Baba.
The witchdoctors, who participated in the programme said that they were aware of witchcraft and there would be no more torture in its pretext in the future.
Rajkumari Uranb of Aurawani VDC in Sunsari district narrated her bitter experience of being tortured and victimized by the people of upper castes alleging her as a witch.
Social worker Lila Thebe said that civil society should be conscious for the prevention of tortures meted out in the name of witchcraft.
President of Society Nepal Dilli Sitaula argued that those uneducated women of lower castes in rural area are helpless in this regard. “Those who are economically weak are accused of witchcraft.”
A public notice “Accusation of Witchcraft Is A Crime” issued by the Home Ministry was recited at the Programme.
http://what-is-witchcraft.blogspot.com/2007/07/code-of-conduct-against-witchcraft-in.html
Source: http://what-is-witchcraft.blogspot.com/2007/07/code-of-conduct-against-witchcraft-in.html
By Sachin Pokharel
ITAHARI, July 29: A code of conduct has been formed and made public against witchcraft, a superstition that is still in practice in different regions of the nation and tortures meted out in the name of witchcraft.
The code of conduct was formed with the initiation of civil society and victims of the evil practice in Itahari district recently.
The code was introduced with the participation of people who were victimized, women, witchdoctors and social workers at a public hearing organised by Society Nepal, an NGO. The code was announced after a wide discussion with the stakeholders and it would be implemented instantly, the organisers said.
The witchdoctors involved in such kind of practice and torture had also expressed commitment that they would implement the code of conduct to control the social menace completely.
Initially, many people were tortured in the name of witchcraft, but now onward no one would be troubled, said Achyut Narayan Chaudhary known as Adheri Baba.
The witchdoctors, who participated in the programme said that they were aware of witchcraft and there would be no more torture in its pretext in the future.
Rajkumari Uranb of Aurawani VDC in Sunsari district narrated her bitter experience of being tortured and victimized by the people of upper castes alleging her as a witch.
Social worker Lila Thebe said that civil society should be conscious for the prevention of tortures meted out in the name of witchcraft.
President of Society Nepal Dilli Sitaula argued that those uneducated women of lower castes in rural area are helpless in this regard. “Those who are economically weak are accused of witchcraft.”
A public notice “Accusation of Witchcraft Is A Crime” issued by the Home Ministry was recited at the Programme.
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