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1. The Dark Age we face

When the Russian women were celebrating revolution, Nepalese women movement was just coming together and forming Nari Samiti (women committee) in 1917. A child-widow, Ms. Yogmaya Neupane initiated cultural movement against social oppression over women. After three years of that the Sati Pratha (woman burning with death body of husband) was banned. It was big achievements to save women’s lives.

After 15 years of that some of the progressive political activists initiated informal school for women 1934. This initiation helped not only to literate woman in normal education, but also political literacy. This step really helped to make women aware about civic rights.

2. Political Motivation and Action (1947 – 1960)

In 1940, four veteran political leaders fighting against 104 years long Rana Oligarchy regime were shot-dead, just because of demanding citizen rights. This incident dissatisfied people and developed anger over the Regime. More and more people became ready to sacrifice live for the cause of civic rights. As result, political parties emerged day by day. Women’s participatin also accelerated.

In 1947, women came on the street to attend public rally with demand of civic rights. Four women were arrested and kept in the custody for 16 days. They were the first veteran women to dare challeging feudal-patriachal norms and values and chanting slogan on the street. 

After released, they founded women organization with political motives. Immediately, it took step to conduct a delegation to prime minister and petitioned with demand of education for women. As result, the public school was opened for women. Women got access to formal education, which widen public space and opportunity. Maximizing this opportunity, women played crucial role to establish multiparty democracy in 1951 with over throwing 103 years long Oligarchy Rana Regime.

Immediate after establishment of multiparty democracy, women demanded right to vote and take part in election, which was achieved within a day of demand. As result Sadhana Pradhan from Communist Party of Nepal was elected as first woman representative of people, in 1953. Dwarikadevi Thakurani from Nepali Congress was elected as single woman member in parliament, became first minister in 1958. This is the stepwise move of woman upward taking state power.   

In 1960, Royal quop was taken place with imposition of party less Panchayat system. All the organisatioins including political parties were banned. Women’s mobility was also restricted. The dark era after 10 years of democracy started once again.

3. Challenging autocracy was life threatening- women accepted it happily (1980- 90)

From 1960-80, it was almost silence period in terms of women’s collective action in terms of political right. In 1979, student’s movement was broken and spreaded very quickly over the country. People from different sectors including women, peasant and workers extended their solidarity and participated. Finally, the movement turned into people’s movement. In the process, All Nepal Women Association (ANWA), which was banned in 1960 was re-established in March 2^nd 1980 and geared up the women movement with demand of equal right for women in all sphere of lives. ANWA expanded among all women including student, peasant, worker and teacher etc. 

Through this process, ANWA’s network expanded very quickly throughout the country. Every member was clear that until and unless achieving democracy, women’s equality was not possible. With this very clear perspective, women moved for political change. As result, women really showed the courage by participating people’s movement in 1990. 

It is notable here; the United Left Front among seven communist parties was led by Sahana Pradhan (who is standing committee member of CPN-UML as well as Foreign minister now).  Almost a dozen women from working class sacrificed their lives, hundreds of arrested and thousands took part in the movements. As return, multiparty democracy was reestablished in April 1990 and created open space for people movement including women. 

 4. Stepping up toward success (1990 -2006)

1990s a silver age for women movement was started. ANWA led the women’s inspiration with preparing charter of demands as Equal property right, Citizenship right, Maternity protection, Violence against women, Social security system covering women, Right to divorce, Employment guarantee and Participation in Decision making as strategic needs and Education and literacy for all, Reproductive health facility, Caring system for child, elderly and disable, Banning all kinds of malpractices including dowry and Make punishable violence against women based on superstitious belief including witch-battering, Deuki (offering women to temple) etc. as practical needs of Nepali women. And, submitted to government.

Among them, some issues picked up by the state-party-and society, few even accepted. However, it was a major break-through of women’s movement which compelled the society to share ‘power” with women. As result five-percent candidacy for woman was reserved in parliamentary election.

At least some women in various level of state mechanism including political parties and civil society organization were socially compelled.

ANWA conducted its second congress in 1992 and decided to continue fighting for equality. As result, 20 percent reservation for women in local elected body was legally achieved in 1996. Based on that, 40,000 women were elected at once through out the country in 1997.

Women in parliament raised issue to abolish legal discrimination. Equality bill was discussed in parliament for six year. Finally, the bill was passed in March 2002. The mentionable points of the achievement through this bill are following.

• Relating with Property: Daughter can have equal Inheritance property right before marriage. But after getting marriage this right will be immediately transferred to husband’s property, however son can continue this right regardless of marital status. Widow can get her share of the property and consume as her own will, even if she gets second marriage.
• Divorced: Spouses are allowed to divorce in the case of physical assault as well as mental torture by either side. But before divorce, wife can claim half of the property of husband and can use as per her own will and interest.
• Abortion: Any unwilling pregnancy can be aborted with decision of woman herself within 12 weeks and in the case of incest or rape, within 18 weeks.
• Marriage age and polygamy: The marriage age for male and female has been equalized as 18 years with consent of guardian and 20 years with self-decision. Punishment for polygamy increased by 10 times than before as Rs.5000 to 25.000 or 3 years imprisonment or both.
• Punishment for rape case: Rapist can be imprisoned up most 15 years, depends on age of woman as girl child below 10 years the imprisoned for 15 year, woman above 18 years minimum 5 years and in the case of disable or pregnant woman, additional five-years.

5. Monarchy Snatched power in 2004

In 2001 March, there was royal massacre and killed all members of king. Then, his second brother took over the position. Slow by slow; the new king started to snatch the political power. After one year, the elected parliament was dissolved in May 2002 and government in October 2002. Then, he started to form puppet government.

Finally, he snatched back absolute power in February 1^st 2005. This action made negatively positive impact on people’s movement as a whole and women in specific. 

After this political regression, women having different political identities had been able to identify common gender agendas and launch campaign among women. 

In this juncture, Communist Party of Nepal (UML) declared 8-points gender agenda through its central committee in August 2005. It created positive environment among all other political parties as well to think about women’s right and declare their position.

Another hand, women from all parties came together and finalized common agendas and mechanism for joint action. 

Finally, on the very day of “International Women Day (March 8, 2006), all parties agreed on it and declared 9-points common gender agendas of all parties and after restoration of democracy, these rights would be guaranteed. This declaration spread the rays of hope among every gender sensitive men and women.

street at once. Among them almost half were women. More than two dozen martyrs in the movement, two women sacrificed their lives.

6. 2006 Golden year for women rights and the struggle

April uprising in the 2006 was first ever historical people’s movement in Nepal. This is the historical event, because of people chanted slogan throughout the country at once with demand of republican Nepal with inclusive and participatory democracy. 

In this 19 days general strike from April 6 to 24, 2006, almost 1/3^rd of the total population was on the street. Women were almost half of them. Finally, democracy returned through re-establishing of 4- years back (on May 22, 2002) dissolved parliament. It was great Victory.

Then, the restored parliament curtailed monarchy’s all right including chief of army, head of state, country became secular from Hindu, government became Nepal government instead of HMG etc. on the day of May 18, 2006

From the gender point of view May 30, 2006 was even important. On the very day parliament adopted a motion declaring 4-points women rights.

Gefont is the first organization making commitment to respect the declaration and implement 1/3^rd women participation in its all structure by its 5^th congress to be held on May 2008. Similarly other people’s organizations have also adopted it and started to implement one by one. Among the political party only CPN-UML has formally decided to have 1/3rd women in its district structure right now and will be included in constitution through next congress in coming February, 2008.

7. Interim Constitution scattered the Rays of Hope

In mid January 2007, Interim constitution has been adopted. In this constitution, additional women’s rights have been included.

But, we need to be very aware that if the women movement would not really keep continue its campaign and lobbying, it is not necessary that all these rights would be automatically ensure in new constitution.

 8. Constituent Assembly Election and Gender Agendas

Constituent assembly election has been scheduled for November 22, 2007. Now, all the parties are in the process to draft its election manifesto. Women have identified following agendas to be included in the election manifesto as well as in new constitution later on.

1. Inheritance Right of identity for both men and women.
2. Equal property right
3. Not less than 1/3^rd women participation with targeting to achieve proportionate representation in all state mechanism including employment.
4. Equal pay for equal value of work
5. Guarantee of Maternity protection and Child rights with recognition of reproductive responsibility as social responsibility as well as full control over own-body.
6. Social security coverage for all women.
7. Recognition of informal sectors works through workers registration. 
8. Counting the reproductive role in the society as productive role
9. Affirmative action to mainstream marginalized and backward community
10. Welfare-based state with guarantee of basic needs including education, health facilities, and minimum social security. 
11. Recognition of National Women Commission as constitutional body.
12. Guarantee of Social justice and developing mutual cooperation, coordination, equality, good will as part of state responsibility.

8. Concluding points

Some challenges are intertwined- political declaration vs. implementation of affirmative action; high expectation & unequal comparison with developed world vs. status quoits approach with ignoring call of time; glazy policy formation vs. effective implementation; paying lip-service vs. internalisation/realisation of issue; mutual cooperation vs. confrontational approach etc.

Recognized issue of gender parity, new debate of reservation versus participation- physical existence Vs issue representation started

Accepting all these challenges, moving toward to attend the lustful society, we are really looking forward to learn from your long experiences to move forward in the process of changing society as gender aware, equal and social justice based. Let me remain here with high hope of working together for real solidarity, sisterhood and comrade hood.

Preseented in Women conference of SDP-Denmark, 2007