173 discriminatory laws still in force :FWLD

There are at least 173 legal provisions, 110 schedules and over 450 instances of use of languages cutting across 83 different laws that discriminate against women, the Forum for Women, Law and Development (FWLD) said in a report titled ‘An Update of Discriminatory Laws in Nepal and Their Impact on Women’.

The Speaker approved the Acts to Amend Some Gender Equality Laws – 2063 on November 6. However, the amendment deals with only 56 legal provisions cutting across 83 different Acts.

According to the report, discriminatory laws cover issues like citizenship rights, property rights, marriage and family, nationality, legal and court proceedings, trafficking and sexual abuse, employment, education and identity.

Meera Dhungana, an advocate at the FWLD, said: “More laws need to be amended to ensure gender parity.” Previous laws on inheritance of ancestral property discriminated against women.

“The change is reflected in a legal provision, which says an unmarried daughter has equal right over the ancestral property. She does not have to return her share of property after marriage,” she said. “The amendment has widened the definition of rape. The law takes any forced sexual activity by a husband as an instance of rape,” said advocate Sabin Shrestha, who is also associated with the FWLD.

An errant hubby could be jailed for three to six months and a wife can file for divorce, citing forced sexual activity. Though the amended Act does not recognise citizenship rights of women, another bill on Integration and Amendment of Nepal’s Citizenship Laws is under consideration.