On Jan. 25, Nepalese Prime Minister Prachanda gave a national speech addressing the need to combat inequalities and injustices that linger on despite the defeat of the oppressive feudal monarchy.
In the nationally televised address, Prachanda emphasized the importance of women’s rights. The Nepalese prime minister stated that in order to move forward with the struggle for women’s equality, women must have equal rights to parental property.
According to Prachanda, an intensive campaign to end domestic violence will be implemented immediately. Prachanda further declared that dowries would be completely abolished beginning the following week. Anyone caught accepting or paying a dowry would be held legally responsible. Dowries are often linked to violence against women.
Laws to ban caste-based discrimination will also be introduced. In the caste system, one’s social status is determined by the caste into which one is born. The poorest and most oppressed cast, the “untouchables,” are banned from some temples and even prohibited from drinking from public fountains.
