Gender Profile

Shankharapur Municipality,

Overview of the national level data has a Human Development Index of 0.579 with a Gender Development Index of 0.9091. As per the World Economic Forum, Nepal stands at the 101st position in terms of GDI in the world. The GDI value is calculated on the basis of gender gaps in education, life expectancy and income. Both HDI and GDI are calculated at the national level, and their values are not usually available at the sub-national and local levels, but nevertheless are very useful references for policy makers and planners to understand factors impeding gender equality in the specific districts and municipalities under consideration for developing the Gender Profile.

According to the Human Development Report of 20182, the life expectancy at birth for female is 71.9 and for male is 69.0, which contrasts with the Mean years of schooling for female at 3.6 and for male at 6.4. There is a considerable difference in mean years of schooling between male and female; the Gender Inequality Index of Nepal is 0.476. The Adult literacy rate of Nepal (considering people aged 15 years and above) is 56.5 with male at 71.6 and female only at 44.53, where the literacy rate is far less for female than for male. This data showing a lower level of female literacy at the national level also tells a similar situation for most of the districts and municipalities considered here.

Municipality and district data selection specifics Statistical estimates from the Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS) on the “Household, population and average household size”4, the “Population aged five years and above by literacy status and sex”5, the “Population by caste/ethnicity and sex”6 and the “Population by disability and sex”7 are compiled to prepare Gender Profile for the following selected municipalities: Neelakantha Municipality (Dhading district), Bheemeshwor Municipality (Dolakha district), Gosaikunda Rural Municipality (Rasuwa district), Chautara Sangachowkgadhi Municipality (Sindhupalchok district), Lalitpur Metropolitan City (Lalitpur district), Changunarayan Municipality (Bhaktapur district) and Shankharapur Municipality (). Gender disaggregared data from these estimates as well as available other sources are presented in a chronological order for these districts and municipalities under following broad dimensions: population and demographic profile; education, health, caste/ethnicity and disability by gender; socio-cultural roles; women’s representation, leadership and economic activities; harmful cultural practices and gender based violence; and situation of policies, plans and institutions regarding Gender Equality and Social Inclusion (GESI) in Disaster Risk Management (DRM).

1 Human Development Report, UNDP 2019, See: http://www.hdr.undp.org/en/countries/profiles/NPL 2 Human Development Report, UNDP 2018 3 Government of Nepal, Central Bureau of Statistics 2011, Nepal Living Standard Survey 2010/11, See: https://cbs.gov.np/nepal-living-standard-survey-2010-11/ 4 Government of Nepal, Central Bureau of Statistics 2011, GP_Hhld_Table01, See: https://cbs.gov.np/province-level-output-tables/ 5 Government of Nepal, Central Bureau of Statistics 2011, GP_Indv_Table06, See: https://cbs.gov.np/province-level-output-tables/ 6 Government of Nepal, Central Bureau of Statistics 2011, GP_Indv_Table03, See: https://cbs.gov.np/province-level-output-tables/ 7 Government of Nepal, Central Bureau of Statistics 2011, GP_Indv_Table05, See: https://cbs.gov.np/province-level-output-tables/

1 The Factsheet produced by UN on situation of women in is a handy reference on gender equality in these aspects8.

General Demographic Profile of each Municipality9

Total Sex ratio m/f Male literacy Female `Disability by Municipality (type) Population 2011 2011 literacy 2011 gender 2011 2011

Male 582 Neelakantha (Urban) 82.83 74.39 58.68 58,515 Female 535

Male 502 Bhimeshwor (Urban) 85.57 79.62 59.88 32,486 Female`467

Male 118 Gosaikunda (Rural) 107.28 66.68 47.32 7,143 Female 79

Male 434 Chautara Sangachowkgadhi (Urban) 84.33 72.05 55.92 46,497 Female 335

Male 1,329 Lalitpur Metropolitan City (Urban) 104.98 92.32 79.33 284,922 Female 1,149

Male 414 Changunarayan (Urban) 94.92 88.05 67.24 55,430 Female 386

Male 181 Shankharapur (Urban) 95.03 82.08 62.29 25,338 Female 149

8 http://un.org.np/sites/default/files/RevisedWomenFactsheet-Province3_2.pdf 9 Government of Nepal, Central Bureau of Statistics 2011.

2 Figure: Gender profile map of district/municipality (courtesy of Central Bureau of Statistics).

3 Laws regarding gender equality The Constitution of Nepal 2015 has guaranteed rights of women very clearly: (1) Every woman shall have equal lineage right without gender based discrimination10. (2) Every woman shall have the right to safe motherhood and reproductive health11. (3) No woman shall be subjected to physical, mental, sexual, psychological or other form of violence or exploitation on grounds of religion, social, cultural tradition, practice or on any other excuse. Such acts shall be punishable by law, and the victim shall have the right to obtain compensation in accordance with the law12. (4) Women shall have the right to participate in all bodies of the State based on the principle of proportional inclusion13. (5) Women shall have the right to obtain special opportunity in education, health, employment and social security, on the basis of positive discrimination14. (6) The spouse shall have the equal right to property and family affairs15.

Maternal Health at the national level Maternal Mortality Rate (per 100,000 live births) was quite high – 248 in 2013. Ministry of Health and Population (MoHP) had set target of reducing MMR to 148 by 2016/17 and to 125 by the year 2020/21. The progress was rather slow though, reaching only 239 in 201816. Similarly, in order to improve health of women, the ministry had a target of bringing down the percentage of women aged 15-49 with body mass index less than 18.5, to 13% by the year 2016/17 and to 12% by 2020/21. This target also has not been reached – reaching only 14.5% by the year 2018.

National machinery for gender equality Nepal is signatory to 23 human rights treaties and International human rights instruments with legal framework in Nepal supporting women’s right and equality, including the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), Beijing Platform for Action (BPfA), the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), UN Security Council Resolutions 1325 and 182017. The Election Act (2007) provide substantive quota for women (33%) to be represented in Constituent Assembly (CA)18. Nepal was the first country in Asia to develop National Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security in 2011 and women’s and girls’ right are protected in the Comprehensive Peace Accord19.

Nepal enforced The Caste Based Discrimination and Untouchability (Offence and Punishment) Act, 2068 (2011)20 and declared caste based discrimination and untouchability actions punishable by the law. Yet, the practice of untouchability has not completely stopped, especially in the rural areas, and Dalit people, particularly Dalit women face the discrimination more, as they are less aware about their rights and unable to access education and other social services21. Most Dalit women do not have citizenship certificates and therefore cannot access land ownership, bank accounts, formal jobs, or government services22.

According to the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) at the 23rd session of the Human Rights Council (November 2015), the section for ‘Women and children’ under sub-sections 61-64 state that23 (61) The GoN has taken a number of policy, legal, institutional and programmatic measures to ensure gender justice and equality. The GoN is implementing National Strategy and Action Plan on Gender Empowerment and elimination of Gender

10 Article 38(1), Constitution of Nepal 2015. 11 Article 38(2), Ibid. 12 Article 38(3), Ibid. 13 Article 38(4), Ibid. 14 Article 38(5), Ibid. 15 Article 38(6), Ibid. 16 Progress of the Health Sector in FY 2017/18, Ministry of Health and Population, See: https://www.nhssp.org.np/Resources/HPP/Health_Sector_Progress_Report_2018.pdf 17 Gender Profile, United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women March 2016 18 Gender Profile, United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women March 2016 19 Gender Profile, United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women March 2016 20 United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women Report August 2016. 21 Ibidem. 22 Ibidem. 23 Universal Periodic Review at the 23rd session of the Human Rights Council November 2015, See: https://www.upr-info.org/sites/default/files/document/nepal/session_23_-_november_2015/a_ hrc_wg.6_23_npl_1_en.pdf 4 Based Violence (2013–2018) as an umbrella policy, and other sectoral policies on women's rights. Domestic Violence (Crime and Punishment) Act, 2009 and its Regulation, 2010 are being enforced. Amendment Bill to eliminate Gender Based Violence (GBV) has been tabled at the Legislature Parliament. Single Women Security Fund (utilization) Regulation, 2013, Anti witchcraft (Crime and Punishment) Act 2014 and Sexual Harassment at Workplace (Control) Act, 2014 have been enacted. (62) The GoN has continuously been raising awareness against the harmful cultural practices such as dowry, child marriage and witchcraft throughout the country. The GoN has established a gender based violence alleviation fund in all districts, hospital based one stop crisis management centres and service centres in 17 districts and rehabilitation centres in eight districts in order to take preventive action and provide urgent service and support to the victims of GBV. (63) A comparison of Gender Development Index (GDI) values of different times shows consistent progress both at national and local levels. (64) In the fiscal year 2014/15, the budget for promoting gender equality and women's empowerment was increased to 21.93 percent (i.e. NRs. 135.65 billion) of the total budget. Likewise, as per the Local Authorities Resource Mobilization and Management Guidelines, 2012, local authorities have been allocating 10 percent of their capital budget to the programs targeted at marginalized women and children. To increase the access of women to land, the GoN has introduced a provision of providing 30 percent rebate in land registration fees when registering the land in the name of a woman or jointly in the name of a couple. The Gender Inequality Index has declined from 0.558 in 2011 to 0.485 in 2013. GBV has been declared a criminal offence and the GoN has pursued a zero tolerance policy against it.

Demographic profile and Population As per the Census of 2011, there are a total of 1,744,240 people living in 436,344 households in the Kathmandu district24. The distribution of 913,001 male (52.34% of district population) and 831,239 female (47.66% of district population) has an average household size of 4.00 and a sex ratio of 109.84 (male: female), indicating a higher male population.

The Shankharapur Municipality, in particular, has a population of 25,338 living in 5,406 households with 12,346 male (48.73% of municipality population) and 12,992 female (51.27% of municipality population) which indicates a sex ratio of 95.03. The population of the female is larger than the population of the male. The female percentage population for the municipality is larger than the female percentage population for the district.

The recent data as of 2018 from the municipality shows its latest population of 27,202 (13,633 male and 13,569 female) living in 5,607 households25. The economically active age group (15-49) population is 15,267 (male 8,396, female 6,871). There are 754 female-headed households (13.44%)26. Agriculture is the principal occupation of almost one-fourth (24.43%) of the population. Shankharapur Municipality is a growing peri-urban center, absorbing overflow of urbanization from the core areas of Kathmandu. People from other parts of the country are particularly migrating here, permanently or temporarily. Besides, a large area of this municipality is blocked by the Development Authority for building a smart city, which will call a large number of workers for construction work in the future. Besides, there are already temporary residents, living here for education and work. Data of such temporary residents are not available but the impact of COVID-19 has revealed the need of complete data of such temporary residents such as migrant workers, women, children as well, for planning and responding to the impact of disasters as well as health emergencies.

24 Population Census 2011, Central Bureau of Statistics, 25 Municipality Profile, Shankharapur Municipality, 2018. 26 Ibidem.

5 Education (by gender) As per the Census of 2011, among the people aged five years and above in Kathmandu (total: 1,632,640 with 853,486 male and 779,154 female), 1,408,199 people can read and write (with 786,704 male and 621,495 female), 25,606 people can read only (with 11,471 male and 14,135 female), 198,225 people can’t read and write (with 55,116 male and 143,109 female), also considering 610 people who did not state their literacy (with 195 male and 415 female), this gives a literacy rate of 86.25 for the district. The male literacy is 92.18 and the female literacy is 79.77, with the female literacy rate lower than the male literacy rate by 12.41. This means that among a sample of a hundred male and a hundred female, the number of literate female will be less than the number of literate male by 12.41.

The same Census data shows, 23,535 with 11,407 male and 12,128 female) people aged five years and above in Shankharapur Municipality. Among them, 16,918 people can read and write (with 9,363 male and 7,555 female), 446 people can read only (with 215 male and 231 female), 6,149 can’t read and write (with 1,824 male and 4,325 female), also considering 22 people who did not state their literacy (with 5 male and 17 female), this gives a literacy rate of 71.88 for the municipality. The male literacy is 82.08 and the female literacy is 62.29. Yet again, though the female population is more than the male population, the female literacy rate is less than the male literacy rate by 19.79. This means, among each hundred male and a hundred female, the number of literate female will be less than the number of literate male by 19.79.

The updated data of the municipality reveal 17.51% illiterate, 22.74% of the population as literate only, with an additional 20.67% completing only primary level (no disaggregated data available)27.

Caste/Ethnic groups (by gender) In Kathmandu district (with a total of 117 caste/ethnic groups), the five least populated caste/ethnic groups are Yamphu (total: 11 with 7 male and 4 female), Dom (total: 13 with 8 male and 5 female), Aathpariya (total: 14 with 8 male and 6 female), Amat (total: 15 with 9 male and 6 female) and Nurand (total: 15 with 5 male and 10 female). Also, with a total of 15 people is the caste/ethnic group Nachhiring (total: 15 with 8 male and 7 female). The caste/ethnic group with most people is Brahman – Hill (total: 410,126 with 218,215 male and 191,911 female). The largest representation by caste/ethnicity and gender is that of the male Brahman – Hill.

In Shankharapur municipality, in particular, with a total of 21 caste/ethnic groups, the five least populated caste/ethnic groups are Musalman (total: 14 with 11 male and 3 female), Sarki (total: 17 with 9 male and 8 female), Danuwar (total: 18 with 12 male and 6 female), Sherpa (total: 25 with 12 male and 13 female), and Terai Others (total: 25 with 15 male and 10 female). The cast/ethnic group with most people is Tamang (total: 8,903 with 4,365 male and 4,538 female). The largest representation by caste/ethnicity and gender is that of the female Tamang.

27 Municipality Profile, Shankharapur Municipality, 2018.

6 Disability (by gender) The total number of disabled people in Kathmandu district is 17,122 (male: 9,144 and female: 7,978) with 35% physical disability (male: 3,407 and female: 2,623), 22% blindness/low vision (male: 1,917 and female: 1,786), 14% deaf/hard of hearing (male: 1,130 and female: 1,238), 2% both deaf and blind (male: 147 and female: 162), 11% speech problem (male: 998 and female: 817), 7% mental disability (male: 585 and female: 552), 3% intellectual disability (male: 324 and female: 256) and 7% multiple disability (male: 636 and female: 544). In the Shankharapur municipality, in particular, the total number of disabled people is 330 (male: 181 and female: 149) with 33% physical disability (male: 66 and female: 43), 19% blindness/low vision (male: 36 and female: 28), 16% deaf/hard of hearing (male: 25 and female: 28), 3% both deaf and blind (male: 6 and female: 4), 12% speech problem (male: 19 and female: 19), 8% mental disability (male: 12 and female: 13), 2% intellectual disability (male: 5 and female: 2) and 7% multiple disability (male: 12 and female: 12). The percentage has been rounded to the nearest integer for this category. Physical disability has been recorded as the highest prevalent disability (total 101, 54 male, 47 female) followed by mental disability (total 34, 22 male 12 female) in the municipality28.

Health The right to reproductive health is an important indicator of gender equality. Decision a woman can take about her health tells the extent to which her family and society is open to women empowerment. In Kathmandu, every two out of three pregnant women (66.6%) opt for institutional delivery which is still low for the capital area with so many health facilities29. The low rate of Long Acting Reversible Contraceptives (LARC) (14.5%)30 and the Contraceptive Prevalence Rate (CPR) (15.9)31 seems quite low. It may be possible that CPR is underreported. In Shankharapur Municipality only 8.5% of deliveries are reported to take place as institutional deliveries, which also seems quite underreported, as most of the deliveries do take place in hospitals as there are good health facilities and good road connections. The low CPR of 17.9% indicates a lack of awareness than lack of access to contraceptives or it could indicate low control of women over their reproductive health. The 98 FCHVs though have been running mothers group meetings relatively well (84.6%)32 seems less effective as both institutional delivery and CPR are considerably low in this municipality.

Data on the impact of Corona Virus Pandemic in this municipality is not available, but reference can be taken from the data at the national level. In recent months, the total lockdown imposed in the country for preventing the spread of COVID-19 had negatively affected the reproductive health of women. Prohibition on public movement and all non-essential transport and a drastic limitation on health care services led to a sharp decline in institutional deliveries. The mandatory requirement of the Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) Report has prevented pregnant women from receiving treatment and medical attention in time. All these adverse situations have resulted in an almost 200% increase in the Maternal Mortality Rate in the period during the lockdown33.

The legal age of marriage in Nepal is 20 years. Health-wise also, it is harmful to become a mother before this age. Girls particularly in rural areas have a higher tendency of getting married at ages before 20 years of age.

28 Municipality Profile, Shankharapur Municipality, 2018. 29 Annual Report 2074-75, Department of Health Services, Ministry of Health and Population, April 2019. 30 Annual Report 2073-74, Department of Health Services, Ministry of Health and Population, April 2018. 31 Annual Report 2074-75, Department of Health Services, Ministry of Health and Population, April 2019. 32 Annual Report 2074-75, Department of Health Services, Ministry of Health and Population, April 2019. 33 https://kathmandupost.com/national/2020/05/27/a-200-percent-increase-in-maternal-mortality-since-the-lockdown-began

7 Representation and Leadership The Constitution of Nepal (2015) and the Local Election Act (2017) requires all political parties to nominate at least 1 female candidate in a leadership position – the Mayor or Deputy Mayor in the municipality and the Chairperson or Vice-Chairperson in the rural municipality. Likewise, the ward committees of the local levels must have two female members, one among them representing a Dalit community. As mandated by the Constitution of Nepal, the representation of women at the ward level is ensured in all 9 wards. The only female at a leadership position in the municipality is the Deputy Mayor. All ward committees are led by male.

Female leadership Dalit Female Female Ward Total % No. No. % No. %

Mayor/Dy.-Mayor 1 2 50% 1 0.5 0 0%

1 2 5 40% 0 0 1 20%

2 1 4 25% 0 0 0 0%

3 2 5 40% 0 0 1 20%

4 2 5 40% 0 0 1 20%

5 2 5 40% 0 0 1 20%

6 2 5 40% 0 0 1 20%

7 2 5 40% 0 0 1 20%

8 1 4 25% 0 0 0 0%

9 2 5 40% 0 0 1 20%

8 Poverty and Development Index The Human Development Index (HDI) of 0.632 as of 2014 for Kathmandu was the highest among all districts in Nepal in 2014. The latest available HDI of Shankharapur Municipality is 0.520 in 201834. About 4% of the population (963 total, female 183) is absent from their household, on foreign employment. About 2% of the household (146) do not have their own land35. Data on food security is not available but there are very few households reported who had to rely extensively on day-to-day wage labour for their livelihoods.

There are 37 agriculture groups where 803 women are members. Among these, 23 are women’s agriculture or entrepreneur groups. Besides, there are 67 cooperatives where 4,674 women are associated as members. Twenty five out of these 67 are women’s savings and credit cooperatives36. On the social front also, there are 25 women’s groups with 1,523 women active members. Women seem to be very active in this municipality in household level economic activities.

Harmful Cultural Practices The population in this municipality is a mosaic of Newar, Tamang, Bramhin and communities. While women in Tamang communities are less affected by traditional practices, women in Newar, Bramhin and Chhetri communities do face gender based discriminatory practices emanating from traditional patriarchal value systems and traditional cultural practices such as during the menstruation periods. The Dalit girls and women are doubly discriminated by such value systems and cultural practices.

Disaggregated information and data are not available on harmful cultural practices, but it is well known that gender and caste based discrimination prevails in this district and the municipality.

Various international Human Rights Instruments ratified by Nepal are relevant for this issue: - The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR 1948); - International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (CERD 1965); - International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR 1966); - International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR 1966); - Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW 1979); - Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC 1989); - ILO Convention on Rights of Indigenous Peoples (Convention 169); - Convention on Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD 2008). - In line with these international Human Rights Instruments, the Constitution of Nepal As a state party committed to the principles and intent of these human rights instruments, the Constitution of Nepal 2015 guarantees non-discrimination, participation, inclusion and accountability to women, children, persons with disabilities, senior citizens, and other social groups discriminated, marginalized, oppressed, excluded because of their caste, ethnicity, religious, sexual or gender identity. Yet, many harmful practices, rooted deeply in the culture and tradition are prevalent in the Bagmati Province are common in this municipality as well.

34 www.Nepalindata.com 35 Municipality Profile, Shankharapur Municipality, 2018. 36 Ibidem.

9 Subordination of women: - Chhui/ Chaupadi tradition: where girls and women, mostly in Hindu societies are considered impure during menstruation and are prohibited from entering worship rooms, kitchen, touching plants, cattle (such as cow) and their male family members; prohibited to go to temples or touch community water sources such as deep wells. As such, they are required to live, eat and sleep separately and stay in isolation; during which they could suffer physically due to unhygienic, damp, narrow spaces in such sheds; face the danger of insects and snake bites, and may even face sexual violence. - Female foeticide: Preference for a son over a daughter is increasing prenatal sex selection and termination of a female foetus. Women, particularly those who had given birth to daughters, are under tremendous pressure to give birth to a son, and are forced by her husband’s family to undergo such harsh selection. Not conforming to their demands may force the women to face violence, neglect, abandonment, divorce, or her husband’s polygamous relations. - Child Marriage: although the legal age at marriage is 20 years, child marriage is very common in all parts of the country. In southern low lands Terai, parents often want to get daughters married early to save the burden of higher dowry. The modern gadgets and electronic connectivity have been another major pull factor where boys and girls, still in their adolescent age tie their nuptial relations. Often, they elope, as society and law don’t allow marriage before 20 years of age. - Shamanism and blame on women as witches: Illiteracy and ignorance in rural areas of Nepal have victimized countless women, often single women, widowed women, elderly single women who have been blamed as witches. Such blame is often inflicted by shamans (called as Vaidya in Kathmandu valley, Dhami, Jhankri in hill areas, Vaida or Ojha in Terai) who blame such women possessing otherwise a healthy woman (who has suffered hysteria); and cause even physical punishment (beating, and sometimes even feeding animal feces.

Discrimination based on caste, creed and origin: Although prohibited by the Constitution and several Acts (such as the Civil Code 2018), caste based discrimination still prevails, deeply rooted in the Nepalese Societies, particularly in Hindu societies. The feeling of superiority among so-called upper castes has been the leading factor behind discrimination towards Dalit, the so-called impure, untouchable caste groups. Caste based discrimination deprives Dalits from social, cultural and economic equality. Similarly, people from indigenous nationalities and ethnic, religious, gender and sexual minorities face discrimination in access to opportunities; and girls and women among such groups are more vulnerable to sexual exploitation and abuse.

Physical and Cyber-attack on girls and women: A growing number of incidences are being reported on physical attacks against girls and women in all geographic areas and societies. Rape, attempt to rape, killing, attempt to killing, trafficking are frequently reported in all areas of the province. Women are subjected to domestic violence more. Young girls, who refused proposals for love and marriage, have faced acid attacks. Girls and young women have been traumatized by their boyfriends and partners, who deceived them and exposed their undesirable photos in social media. Only those girls and women who had self-confidence and support of friends and relatives could seek legal remedies, otherwise, most others suffered tremendously. During the COVID-19 lockdown, the number of cases of such incidences was reported quite high37.

37 Anweshi, Women Rehabilitation Centre, 2019 and Human Rights Yearbook 2020, Informal Service Centre, February 2020.

10 Economic exploitation: - Dowry: Dowry is a traditional practice of giving gifts, mainly cash, jewelry, and household utility items to the bride to begin her new life. In some Hindu societies, mainly in southern Terai region, Dowry has become a social practice whereby the bride’s parents will have to gift a huge sum of cash, jewelry, expensive household goodies like furniture, fridge, TV, washing machine, laptops, or personal vehicle such as motorbike or a car; to the bridegroom’s family for getting their daughter married to the bridegroom. Girls who can’t bring such dowry to the satisfaction of the bridegroom’s family are often subjected to verbal abuse, physical torture and sometimes even murder. The pressure of dowry causes a huge financial burden for the parents and this is one of the reasons why they want to get their daughters married at early age as there will be less demand for dowry at such young age.

Sexual Exploitation: - Polygamy: The Civil code 2018 has reiterated polygamy as illegal, yet it exists in almost every society of Nepal; where women face neglect or violence from their husband; violence between co-wives; and conflict over the property and assets; causing physical, financial and emotional harm to women and their children. Human Trafficking: Incidences of trafficking in children, girls and women are reported more and more in this province as well. Although data is not available, trafficking is associated with trading human organs, child labour and sexual exploitation

Gender Based Violence “Violence against women is a manifestation of historically unequal power relations between men and women, which have led to domination over and discrimination against women by men and to the prevention of the full advancement of women...violence against women is one of the crucial social mechanisms by which women are forced into a subordinate position compared with men”.38 Despite continued efforts from the government and civil society, women in Nepal continue to suffer from domestic violence, social violence (e.g. accusation on witchcraft), rape, sexual violence, trafficking, mental and emotional torture forcing women to commit suicide, abduction and online violence39. There have been 300 domestic violence, 1 social violence, 72 polygamies, 64 rape and 5 attempted rape cases and 6 trafficking cases reported in the past one year40. A separate report records 4 deaths and 29 rape/attempted cases in Kathmandu district. No GBV cases were recorded in Shankharapur municipality. Government and non-government organisations are providing legal, shelter, psycho-social and health support to survivors of GBV. These include 1 police office, 6 legal support organisations, 1 One Stop Crisis Management Centre and in 16 non-governmental organisations41.

GESI in Disaster Risk Management Earthquake, fire, landslide and flood are categorised as the most prominent disaster risks in this municipality. The municipality has prepared its Disaster Preparedness and Response Plan and Emergency Response Plan but those are prepared with the support of external development partners. Representation of women, ethnic

38 Declaration on the Elimination of Violence Against Women (A/RES/48/104), Preamble, Paragraph 6, quoted from UN Trust Fund Strategic Plan 2015 2020, https://www.unwomen.org 39 Anweshi, Women Rehabilitation Centre, 2019. 40 Human Rights Yearbook 2020, Informal Service Centre, February 2020. 41 https://nwchelpline.gov.np

11 minorities, senior citizens and socially excluded groups such as Dalits would have enhanced understanding of such documents. In the future, it would be advisable to include such groups in the simulation exercises of such plans.

During disasters, pandemics and humanitarian emergencies, girls, women, persons with disabilities, senior citizens, and socially discriminated/marginalized groups such as indigenous nationalities, ethnic, religious and sexual minority groups are more affected. The local DRM Acts, policies, guidelines and procedures must ensure access, representation and meaningful participation of such vulnerable groups in decision making processes regarding design, implementation and monitoring of DRM actions in all (preparedness, response, recovery) stages of humanitarian support42.

The local levels should ensure equitable access to relief, services and information for affected population of all ages and diversities; provide targeted support to the most margnialised and vulnerable groups, prioritizing girls, single women, pregnant and lactating women, female-headed households, Dalit and persons with disabilities, children, senior citizens and religious, ethnic, gender and sexual minority persons43, and day- to-day wage-earning informal sector workers. In order to target and prioritise better, the local levels should collect analyse and use gender, age, disability and diversity disaggregated data; ensure meaningful representation and participation of such groups in the humanitarian response institutional mechanisms, and establish effective and transparent complaint mechanisms on the response operations or any sexual exploitation and abuse happened or likely to happen in such humanitarian responses44.

Shankharapur Municipality has endorsed its Disaster Risk Management Act 2019 and in line with the Act, it has formed Disaster Management Committees at the Municipality and in some Ward levels. The Act does not stipulate women’s representation in the committee at the Municipality level Committee, and therefore the membership of the committee is limited to the elected representatives and staff. However the Act has a provision of two female representatives at the ward level committees. There are no female representation in the municipality level disaster management committee. The Act has a task assigned to the municipal and local level disaster management committees to implement special programmes for women and vulnerable groups affected by disasters, but otherwise remains gender neutral. The municipality can amend the Act adding a provision for female and socially excluded groups’ representatives in its municipality level Disaster Management Committee to ensure access, representation and meaningful participation of such groups in disaster preparedness and response initiatives.

The municipality has established a disaster management fund at the municipality level. Provisions in the guidelines however are general, and fails to recognize specific problems related to women (such as single women, female headed households) or senior citizens, or sexual, gender, ethnic and religious minorities in accessing support from this fund. The COVID-19 has revealed the need to recognize specific requirements of such groups, and even temporary residents, squatter population and informal sector workers.

Volunteers (both male and female) are trained for light search and rescue and first aid, are linked with the DRM committees at the municipality and ward levels.

42 https://reliefweb.int/report/nepal/gender-equality-update-no-12-nepal-flood-response-2017-31-august-2017 43 Ibidem. 44 Ibidem.

12 Open spaces are identified in 9 wards and one evacuation centre is under construction. There is a plan to construct such evacuation centres in other wards. It is important to consider the specific needs of adolescent girls, pregnant women, lactating mothers, senior citizens and persons with disabilities in planning open spaces, as well in the evacuation centres being built.

The global pandemic COVID-19 is causing tremendous stress on the emergency health response system of the country. Lack of adequate and quality testing facilities at the quarantines have spilled infection at the community level now. The relief support was so sporadic and ineffective that it forced an unprecedented distress migration of day-to-day wage-earning informal sector workers back home on foot. As the infection is spreading in communities unless the country is able to manage adequate health human resources, protective equipment, medical equipment and supplies, the pandemic could push the emergency response system to the brink of collapse. Moreover, the looming economic recession might abolish the socio-economic development achieved over decades past. The pandemic has not only compromised the health and well-being of women, but in the meantime increased their workload for taking care of children and families; increased vulnerability due to loss of livelihoods; and increased threat of sexual and gender based violence.

A checklist prepared by UN Agencies consists of suggestions, informed by gender equality and social inclusion to minimize the impact of the pandemic on women and such vulnerable groups45. This should be a handy reference for local levels to implement GESI informed pandemic response activities.

Machinery for Gender Equality and Social Inclusion: Laws, Policies, Guidelines and Institutions Under the Executive Committee of the Municipality, the Social Development Committee is the unit responsible for ensuring gender equality and social inclusion in the annual plans of the municipality. There is a section - Women Children and Senior Citizens Section under the Chief Administrative Officer responsible for implementing the approved plans for gender equality and women empowerment, and for senior citizens as well as persons with disabilities.

The municipality in its annual plan of 2076-77 reiterated its policy to implement plans to empower women and deprived communities and to enhance their access to the state resources. There is also a commitment to update the data on women, children, senior citizens, persons with disabilities and other deprived groups who qualify for social security assistance. The municipality also aims to expand services of cooperatives to more women, marginalized communities, persons with disabilities and deprived communities.

Resource Commitment The approved budget of the municipality for the fiscal year 2076-77 has allocated Rs.13,340,000 for Gender Equality and Social Inclusion programme and Rs.7,100,000 for Disaster Risk Management, which are equivalent to 1.45% and 0.77% of its annual budget46. Local levels can enhance the effectiveness of their planning and resource allocation process by applying the IASC Gender and Age Marker and Gender Responsive Budgeting processes in planning and allocating resources in their annual development as well as humanitarian response plans.

45 http://un.org.np/sites/default/files/Checklist%20for%20GESI%20in%20Disaster_Emergency%20Preparedness_May2020.pdf 46 Annual Plan and Budget 2076-77, Shankharapur Municipality, 2019.

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