Sunita (name changed), a domestic worker, had been suffering sexual exploitation from her employer for almost a year. The incident came to light when the eight grader at a public school in Dholahiti, Lalitpur, opened up about

her situation to one of her teachers.  

According to a study conducted by Women Rehabilitation Centre (Worec), Sunita is one of many minors (children under 18 years) who fall prey to sexual assault. When it comes to rape, minor girls make more than half of the number of rape survivors.

Anbeshi, a book on data of gender-based violence released by Worec on Wednesday to mark the beginning of the 16-day campaign against gender-based violence, mentions that 92 cases of sexual assault on minor girls were reported across the country between June 2014 and June 2015. The number is 52.5 percent of the total number of sexual assault cases reported in that period.

“Sexual violence is a grave issue. And when minors fall victims, matter becomes even serious as these young girls often times are not even aware that it is a crime, and they have no idea about legal procedure,” said Manu Humagain, member of National Women Commission.

Humagain added the onus of offering justice to minor victims lies on the shoulders of the stakeholders.

What is even more alarming is the fact that cases of rape of minors increased by 6.5 percent in comparison to the last year, and  often times the perpetrators are people inside the family or the victims’ neighbours.

Out of the total rape survivors, 107 had been sexually assaulted by their neighbours. Similarly, 3.9 percent of the total rape cases had been committed by relatives.

According to Anup Raj Sharma, president of National Human Rights Commission, it is important to spread awareness about gender-based violence among men to curb cases of violence against women.

“As it is men who commit violence against women and there are more men than women who make laws against gender-based violence, it is important to raise awareness among men,” said Sharma.  

Numbing numbers

- Cases of rape of minors have increased by 6.5 percent compared to last year

- More often perpetrators are people from the family or the neighbourhood

- Out of the total documented rape survivors, 107 had been sexually assaulted by their neighbours

- 3.9 percent of the rapes were committed by relatives

Why int’l day against gender-based violence

- Violence against women is a human rights violation

- Violence against women is a consequence of discrimination against women, in law and also in practice, and of persisting inequalities between men and women

- Violence against women impacts on, and impedes, progress in many areas, including poverty eradication, combating HIV/AIDS, and peace and security

- Violence against women and girls is not inevitable. Prevention is possible and essential

- Violence against women continues to be a global pandemic

Global facts and figures

- 5 percent of women and girls globally experience some form of physical and or sexual violence in their lifetime with up to seven in ten women facing this abuse in some countries

- An estimated 133 million girls and women have experienced some form of female genital mutilation/cutting in the 29 countries in Africa and the Middle East where the harmful practice is most common

- Worldwide, more than 700 million women alive today were married as children, 250 million of whom were married before the age of 15. Girls who marry before the age of 18 are less likely to complete their education and more likely to experience domestic violence and complications in childbirth

- The costs and consequence of violence against women last for generations