Gorkha Gender Profile (May, 2016) 1. Demographic Profile1 0.66% 190 2.5 69.6 67.5 271,061 0.89m/f Population Maternal Total Fertility Female Life Male Life Total Population Sex Ratio Growth Rate Mortality Rate Rate Expectancy Expectancy 2011. (per 100,000 live births) 75.14% 19.09% 3.26% 1.12% 0.63% 55.3% 36% Hindu Buddhist Christian Muslim Bon Female Contraceptive Population Prevalence Rate 2. Impact of Earthquake2 Gorkha is located in the Gandaki Zone of the Western Development Region of Nepal, surrounded by Dhading, Tanahu, Lamjung, Manang and Chitwan districts and it touches the border of Tibet. It is the fourth largest of 75 districts in Nepal and covers an area of 3,610 square kilometers, with elevations ranging from 228 – 8163 meters, and a varied climate. Gorkha’s total population of 271,061 people is comprised of 150,020 females and 121,041 males within a total of 66,506 households. The district is divided into three electoral constituencies, and 13 regions or Ilakas which are divided into 60 Village Development Committees (VDCs) and two Municipalities. On 25 April 2015, a 7.8 magnitude earthquake with the epicenter located at Barpak, Gorkha, hit Nepal causing massive destruction and severe casualties. Two weeks later, another earthquake of 7.3 magnitude shook eastern Nepal. According to a UNDP flash report, 5.4 million people living in 14 out of Nepal’s 75 districts were severely affected. Gorkha was one of the severely affected districts with casualties including 470 1 CBS Nepal (Population Census 2011) 2 Statistic Office, Gorkha (District Profile of Gorkha 2071/2014) District Gender Profile, Gorkha 1 deaths (233, 49.57% women), 952 injured (476, 50% women), and the complete destruction of more than 59,573 houses, 3,074 school classrooms, and 79 health posts3 The development progress of the district is expected to be severely impacted by the devastating earthquake. The immediate response in the aftermath of the earthquake was primarily focused on search and rescue operations, relief support, and protection for displaced families. The DDRC, with material and financial support from the Ministry of Home Affairs, DDC, Gorkha, other district authorities, and humanitarian organizations, mobilized security forces along with equipment for search, rescue, and relief operations. The DDRC immediately mobilized nine clusters to provide lifesaving assistance including shelter, food, health/nutrition, WASH, and protection to all people affected by the disaster. Specially protected vulnerable groups (pregnant women, lactating mothers, adolescent girls, senior citizens, and people with disabilities) were provided with dignity kits and other essential support for health care, nutrition, psycho-social support, and referrals through women safe houses, women centers, and multi-purpose women’s centers. More than 100 humanitarian organizations (INGOs, UN agencies, and private agencies) supported the response and early recovery in Gorkha.4 3. Socio-Cultural, Political, Economic, and Security Conditions5 Socio-Cultural Practices: Gorkha’s population is diverse. Ethnic groups including Gurung, Magar, Newar, and Tamang represent 44% of the total population. Dalits represent 19% of the population, which corresponds with national data, and 37% of the population is made up of others. There is some sharing of social and cultural practices between ethnic groups. Most celebrate Dashai, Tihar, and other festivals commonly, but some specific festivals are only celebrated by respective social groups. As per the socio-cultural practices among different ethnic groups, marriage plays a decisive role in all women’s life choices and their social-economic status, with a woman’s decision making power dependent upon their hierarchy in the family. Single women are discriminated against in Nepalese culture, particularly those who have been widowed, who are considered ill-fated and not allowed to participate in various functions of society.6 The practice of Chhaupadi system still exists in this district, which requires women to remain separated from the rest of society for five days during menstruation. Despite Nepal declaring the country free of Untouchability in June 20067 and also passing and implementing the Untouchability Act 20118, the practice of untouchability has not stopped, especially in the rural areas, and it has not changed the discriminatory behavior of people toward Dalits, who lack legal identity. Most Dalit women do not have citizenship certificates and therefore cannot access land ownership, bank accounts, formal jobs, or government services.9 Dalits are a particularly vulnerable group who tend to be less aware of their rights, are not able to access education, and it was also reported that they were excluded from accessing the relief items during 10 the earthquake response and early recovery. 3 Protection Cluster-Gorkha August 2015 4 Workshop proceeding on humanitarian response and recovery strategy planning, Gorkha 19-20 Nov 2015. 5 For information on Gorkha’s caste/ethnicity, religion and literacy statistics see Annex 4 6 RGA Overview Nepal CARE (8 May 2015) 7 http://en.people.cn/200606/05/eng20060605_271161.html 8 http://idsn.org/nepal-passing-of-untouchability-bill-is-a-historic-achievement-for-the-dalit-movement/ 9 http://www.loc.gov/law/foreign-news/article/nepal-law-on-discrimination-based-on-caste/ 10Save the Children 05-04-2015 District Gender Profile, Gorkha 2 In Gorkha there are 24,744 (37.2%) female-headed households out of 66,506 total households and the total absentee population is 28,104 (25,375 men and 2,729 women). Only 5,818 women (8.74%)11 retain ownership and the registration for their house/land, which illustrates the discriminatory behavior and unequal distribution of assets between women and men. Single women (widows) are not treated equally to women who are married, even though most of the time their husbands are absent from the country. Child Marriage: The practice of child marriage exists in Gorkha despite the Government’s policy and law against child marriage under 20 years old for both women and men.12 There is a concern that the number of child marriages has increased post-crisis, as families turn to child marriage as a way to reduce the burden on the family due to poverty.13 Polygamy: Polygamy, which is discriminatory against women and creates conflict and violence against women, is illegal and punishable under the law, but the practice still exists in almost all parts of the country. In Gorkha, 3,163 men 10 years of age and older (1.16%)14 practice polygamy, out of a total population of 271,061. In the aftermath of the earthquake, more than 30 organizations supported and provided services to vulnerable groups in coordination with the DDRC under the leadership of the Women and Children Office. A total of 4,190 children (2,186 girls and 2,004 boys) including, 966 Dalit children (510 girls and 446 boys), 2,192 Janajati children (1,155 girls and 1,037 boys), and 1,031 other children (521 girls and 511 boys) were supported with different services by international development partners (Save the Children, CARE, World Vision, Good Neighbours, etc.), UN agencies, NGOs, clubs, and private agencies. The services provided included education support, health care, food, and clothes. Thirty-five child-friendly spaces were established covering the 35 VDCs in Gorkha Municipality and will continue until a permanent school building is constructed. A transit house established to support orphaned children is still running. Eighty-seven children (39 girls and 48 boys) received disability IDs enabling them to receive support from the government.15 Similarly, 3,266 vulnerable women (pregnant, lactating mothers) were provided with dignity kits. In addition, senior citizens and people with disabilities were provided with dignity kits and other services from international development partners, UN agencies, and NGOs in coordination with the WCO. A total of 30,236 women benefitted from female safe spaces established in 33 VDCs and Gorkha hospital. Elderly women and people with disabilities were also provided with support.16 Political Situation: Gorkha is divided into three electoral constituencies which are divided into 13 District Development Committee regions or Ilaka. These are divided into 60 VDCs and two Municipalities and each VDC has its nine Wards. Gorkha Municipality is segregated into fifteen Wards. The nine major political parties are present in the district. All three constituencies were 11 CBS Nepal (Population Census 2011) 12 http://www.ipsnews.net/2012/10/child-marriage-defies-laws-in-nepal/ 13 RGA (CARE 29-04-2015) 14 CBS Nepal (Population Census 2011) 15 Status Report –DCWB-Gorkha Nov 2015 16 Protection Cluster-Gorkha August 2015 District Gender Profile, Gorkha 3 represented by NCP- Maoist (all male candidates) in the second CA election of 2070 (2013). There is an Inter Party Women’s Alliance at the district level as a decision making body. The political situation is normal in Gorkha. Economic Conditions: Agriculture is the main source of income in this district and 81% of the population is dependent on agriculture, however only 8.74% of women hold land and house ownership. The total economically active population is 135,616 (62.46%) and of that 56.40% of those are women. Though more women are economically active than men, most women are involved in the informal sectors. Women’s participation in the labor force is 55.83%17 and most of them are self-employed. The HDI value is 0.481 for this district, per capita income is NPR 46,488 and 33.6% of the population lives below the poverty line.18 Security Conditions: Security conditions in the district are normal as compared to other districts. Security force/law and different protection committees exist in the district.19 As a result of the earthquake, many youth have started to migrate to neighboring countries and there has been an increment in cases of gender-based violence and rape cases, howeverno cases of human trafficking have been reported to the WCO and DPO.