Activists demand changes in laws against rape

Women's rights activists have demanded an immediate amendment to the law against rape and a repeal of the time limit. They also drew the attention of the concerned bodies to immediately amend the weak law against rape and provide immediate justice to the victims to ensure the right of minorities, women and children to live freely and safely in a fearless environment.

Organized by Samridhi Foundation Nepal, women's rights activists and media persons from various organizations reached the National Women's Commission today and drew attention to the issue. Sangita Shrestha, the chairperson of the foundation, handed over a letter to a member of the commission Krishna Kumari Poudel Khatiwada.

Chairman Shrestha said, "The victim, who made her case public in the hope of getting justice, suffered further when she came to know that the time limit for filing a rape case in our country is only one year."

Manoj Pandey, the organizer of a beauty pageant called Miss Global International, in which the victim participated in 2014, revealed that he had repeatedly raped her for six months by using drugs, taking nude photos while unconscious, threatening and blackmailing her. She was only 16 at the time.

Chairman Shrestha said that it would take years for any girl, adolescent or woman who was the victim of such a tragic incident to return to normalcy. Stating that the commission should play an important role in preventing such tragic incidents, she drew attention to providing immediate justice to the victims and revoking the time limit.

Understanding the letter, member Khatiwada said that the commission has seriously pressured the concerned body to arrest the accused and take action after making the incident public. Stating that there is legal value in taking action against such people, he expressed his commitment to taking initiative for maximum action.

He also clarified that the commission would move ahead from today to immediately remove the time limit for removing such legal loopholes. Member Khatiwada also informed that the commission has been rescuing and rehabilitating the victims, girls and women from different parts of the country.

Commission chairperson Kamala Parajuli said that the commission had coordinated with the security forces to prevent the perpetrator from absconding as soon as the incident became public. She also said that discussions will be held with various legal experts for initiatives to strengthen such laws and repeal the deadline. Rights activists and media persons from different sectors were present in the program.