National
Self defence training for teenage girls
Keeping in view the rising crime against women, Girls Kick—a programme to empower girls through self-defence training—has started a defence training for teenage girls of a youth club in Nawalparasi district.Nabin Paudel
Keeping in view the rising crime against women, Girls Kick—a programme to empower girls through self-defence training—has started a defence training for teenage girls of a youth club in Nawalparasi district.
Niraj Neupane, chairman of Girls Kick, said, “The training not only teaches girls on ways to defend themselves against sexual predators, but also awares them on the legal recourse they could take if someone harasses or assaults them.” The programme trains members of a club, who, in turn, will aware other girls and women in their neighbourhoods on sexual harassment and women violence.
Renuka Chaudhary, 22, of Ramgram Municipality-1, said she has received defence training twice before. “Now I am able to educate the people in my village on what to do in case of sexual harrasment and violence, and where to get help,” she said.
A group of 15 teenage girls in Ramgram Municipality, who were all trained in self-defence, has been providing awareness on rape and violence against women. “This kind of training makes us self-reliant. In the past, we did not have the courage to go anywhere by ourselves. But now, we are confident that we can defend ourselves to a certain extent,” said Chaudhary.
Teenage girls of Nawalparasi in collaboration with women activists are also conducting drive against sexual harassment and violence. Campaigner Deepak Sharma said that self-defence helps girls to look after themselves in any situation. The concerned stakeholders hope that the case of molestation and rape will decrease in near future.