UN Nepal calls for action as 16-day of activism begins

Digital abuse and digital violence are among the fastest-growing threats to women’s rights worldwide. Studies show that up to half of women globally have faced some form of online harassment or abuse. For adolescent girls, it often begins as early as ages twelve to fourteen, at a time when their social and emotional development is increasingly unfolding online.

Today, the United Nations (UN) in Nepal kicked off the 16-day of 'Activism Against Gender-Based Violence' together with the Minister for Communication and Information Technology Jagdish Kharel, reaffirming Nepal’s commitment to making digital spaces safer for women and girls. This year’s global theme, 'Unite to End Digital Violence against All Women and Girls', underscores the urgency of protecting young people in rapidly expanding digital spaces.

Speaking at the event, the Kharel emphasised the need of having safe, inclusive and empowering digital ecosystem for every Nepali citizen. He noted that, “digital safety is now central to civic participation, access to information and the full exercise of rights in Nepal’s evolving digital landscape.”

The event brought together government representatives, UN agencies, development partners, youth networks, civil society, private sector, and media under one clear message: 'Digital violence is real violence'. Online abuse, sexual extortion, non-consensual sharing of images and the spread of misogynistic content inflict real harm on the lives, dignity and autonomy of women and girls, according to a press note issued by the UN in Nepal.

Speaking on behalf of the UN in Nepal, Resident Coordinator Hanaa Singer-Hamdy underscored that digital violence is not only an attack on the rights, dignity and autonomy of women and girls but a direct threat to their participation in public life.

She warned that online abuse is silencing women journalists, discouraging women leaders, and pushing girls away from digital spaces where their voices are urgently needed. "Protecting women and girls online therefore demands a whole-of-society effort to challenge harmful norms, strengthen accountability, and invest in systems that safeguard digital rights," she said, further highlighting the urgency of digital literacy and online safety education for adolescents - especially boys - to build resilience, transform attitudes, and promote respectful online behaviour.

The event featured a youth-designed mural symbolising collective commitment to reclaiming safe digital spaces, along with a fireside chat with influencers and digital rights experts on the rise of online abuse and the urgent need for stronger protections.

Young participants, on the occasion, shared their experiences of online harassment and the importance of being believed, supported and empowered to live a safe digital life. They asked better support systems for survivors, addressing impact of harmful content and building platforms that are safe for women and girls.

The UNiTE 2025 campaign runs until December 10, under the theme 'UNiTE to End Digital Violence against All Women and Girls' urging everyone to stand together against digital violence and uphold digital rights as fundamental human rights.

The campaign calls on parents, educators, policymakers and technology companies to take shared responsibility for creating online environments where all women and girls can learn, participate and thrive without fear.

Amnesty International Nepal launches Write for Rights 2019 campaign

Amnesty International Nepal (AI Nepal) today launched the Write for Rights 2019 campaign, Amnesty's annual letter-writing campaign, whereby supporters worldwide write letters for people whose rights are under threat or are being violated.
This year Amnesty International is throwing its might behind the children and young people who are fighting some of the world's biggest crises. Many have stepped in where adults have failed to lead and are facing terrible danger as a result.
Write for Rights 2019 will see Amnesty supporters stand in solidarity with young individuals from Belarus, Canada, China, Egypt, Greece, Iran, Mexico, Nigeria, Philippines and South Sudan.
Among others, Amnesty International Nepal is campaigning for Yasaman Aryani, a young Iranian activist, who was sentenced to 16 years in prison for defying the country's forced veiling laws; Sarah Mardini and Sean Binder, two humanitarian workers, who were charged with 'people smuggling' by Greek authorities for participating in a rescue operation of refugees and are now facing up to 25 years in prison, and 17-year-old Magai Matiop Ngong of South Sudan, who was sentenced to death in November 2017 while still a child, in contravention of both South Sudanese law and international law.
Additionally, as part of its ‘Violence against Women’ campaign, Amnesty Nepal supporters will also collect petitions demanding the government implement the 2017 Supreme Court order on regulating sale of acid. The petitions will be delivered to home minister Ram Bahadur Thapa.
"Incidents of acid attacks, which mainly target young girls, have been on the rise in the country,” executive director of Amnesty International Nepal Nirajan Thapaliya said, adding that it's time for the government to take this issue seriously and regulating the sale and distribution of acids, which are currently easily available in the market can be a good first step.
The Write for Rights campaign this year will run from November 28 to December 20.
Every year, Amnesty International runs Write for Rights, a campaign that encourages supporters around the world to write messages of solidarity to people whose rights have been violated just because they dared to stand up against injustice. Supporters are also invited to write letters to the authorities on behalf of these courageous individuals.
Amnesty International's first Write for Rights campaign was launched in 2002. Since then, millions of actions have been taken by activists around the world. Every year, these actions lead to real change. In March, two ex-police officers were arrested for the killing of Brazilian politician and activist Marielle Franco who was gunned down in her car in 2018.  More than half a million people had written letters demanding justice for Franco as part of Amnesty's Write for Rights campaign.

UN, Australia, EU nations concerned on sexual violence

Issuing a joint press note, the United Nations (UN), Australia and five European countries have expressed concern about the reported impunity for perpetrators of sexual violence and violence against women in Nepal and have urged the government to ensure ‘access to justice for victims, stand for the victims’ rights and send a zero-tolerance message to combat gender-based violence’.
Embassy of Australia, Embassy of Finland, Embassy of France, Embassy of Norway, Embassy of Switzerland, Embassy of the United Kingdom, United Nations in Nepal call comes after Krishna Bahadur Mahara stepped down as the House of Representatives speaker after facing allegations of raping Roshani Shahi, a nurse at the Parliament Secretariat.
Without referring to the scandal surrounding Mahara, the UN and Nepal-based embassies of Australia, Finland, France, Norway, Switzerland and the United Kingdom today – in the press note – said, “While certain cases may still be under investigation, we remind the government about its obligations under the international law to ensure access to justice for victims, stand for the victims’ rights and send a zero-tolerance message to combat gender-based violence.”
International standards and Nepal’s obligations under international law, as indicated in the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, and the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, require the government to conduct a prompt, thorough and impartial investigation into allegations, reads the joint statement.
Recommendation No 35 of the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women provides guidance to states concerning their due diligence obligations to investigate all crimes, including that of sexual violence perpetrated against women and girls, and to sentence perpetrators, provide reparations to victims and prevent further violence by addressing the causes and impacts of all forms of violence against women.
Investigation into sexual violence, however, should be victim-centric, adds the statement. “Such an approach places the human rights, interests and needs of the victims at the centre of any and all actions taken in relation to the allegations, not only in investigations, but also by providing victim assistance and protection, with the principles of ‘do no harm,’ confidentiality, safety and non-discrimination,” the statement adds.
This is the first statement from the international community since Shahi accused Mahara of physically assaulting and raping her. “We are particularly concerned about the reported impunity for the perpetrators of sexual violence and violence against women, as also stated by the Special Rapporteur on violence against women during her visit to Nepal in November 2018,” it reads, adding that cases such as Nirmala Panta and Maya BK demonstrate the challenges victims and their families face in seeking justice. “Such measures are particularly important in Nepal where the prevalence of violence against women and impunity for these crimes remains high, and continues to have a negative impact on women, children and the community at large in Nepal.”
The undersigned remain committed to assisting Nepal in combating violence against women and advancing gender equality, in line with Goal 5 of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), it adds.