20 Oct 2010

NEPAL / WOMEN IN CONFLICT

Ten years after its adoption, Security Council resolution 1325, which calls for women’s protection and full involvement in peacebuilding and reconstruction, remains largely unrealized in Nepal where political infighting has stalled the peace process leaving much of the country ungoverned and its women with no sense of security. UNFPA

Posted at: October 20, 2010 11:53 am

Duration: 02:35

Available in: SD

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Full script

STORY: NEPAL / WOMEN IN CONFLICT
SOURCE: UNFPA / UNMIN
TRT: 2:35
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: NEPALI / NATS

DATELINE: 20-30 JULY 2010, NEPAL / FILE

SHOTLIST:

UNFPA - 20-30 JULY 2010, SINDHULI, NEPAL

1. Wide shot, Gita walking along the countryside
2. Med shot, Gita with her children
3. SOUNDBITE (Nepali) Gita, Widow: 
"My life has not improved since the war. Actually, I worry more now. Who will care for my children if something happens to me?"
4. Med shot, Gita holding her deceased husband's photo
5. SOUNDBITE (Nepali) Gita, Widow:
"Life was already hard for us before he died. Now I have to do everything myself."
6. Wide shot, Gita feeding farm animals

UNFPA - 20-30 JULY 2010, DANG, NEPAL

7. Various shots, Sushma walking to rice field to work
8. Med shot, Sushma working in field
9. SOUNDBITE (Nepali) Sushma:
"I don't count on peace in this community. Murders and kidnapping still go on."
10. Wide shot, women working in rice field
11. Med shot, Sushma cooking at home
12. Wide shot, women working in rice field
13. Med shot, Huma leaving women's shelter
14. SOUNDBITE (Nepali) Human Dangi Chetri, Saubhagya Women Saving and Credit Cooperative:
"The peace accord gave us hope we'd finally have a lawful society, but it hasn't happened. Violence continues and the state doesn't stop it. Women are being kidnapped, raped and killed."

FILE – UNMIL – 2008, NEPAL

15. Med shot, woman voting during elections
 
UNFPA - 20-30 JULY 2010, NEPAL

16. Various shots, people at community meeting on women's rights

UNFPA - 20-30 JULY 2010, DANG, NEPAL

17. SOUNDBITE (Nepali) Sushma:
"Victims from both sides should be compensated for the miseries they endured in the war, and they should be brought together for reconciliation."
18. Wide shot, women working in rice field

STORYLINE:

When Nepal was torn by civil war, women and girls suffered severely. Four years after a ceasefire between the Government and Maoist rebels, many women are still waiting for things to get better.

Gita, a rebel soldier's widow, has to raise her six children on her own.

SOUNDBITE (Nepali) Gita, Widow: 
"My life has not improved since the war. Actually, I worry more now. Who will care for my children if something happens to me?"

Gita was pregnant when Army troops executed her husband and tortured her.

SOUNDBITE (Nepali) Gita, Widow: 
"Life was already hard for us before he died. Now I have to do everything myself."

Sushma was also traumatized during the war. At age 14, she was kidnapped by the Maoists and forced to serve them for a year. She stubbornly resisted indoctrination and was eventually let go.

Sushma has since finished school and hopes to find work. But continued violence keeps old fears alive.

SOUNDBITE (Nepali) Sushma:
"I don't count on peace in this community. Murders and kidnapping still go on."

The plight of women and girls during armed conflict was recognized by the United Nations Security Council in October 2000. Council Resolution 1325 called for women's protection and full involvement in peace building and reconstruction.

Ten years later, Resolution 1325 remains largely unrealized in Nepal. Political infighting has stalled the peace process. New laws against domestic violence and gender discrimination are not enforced. Much of the country is virtually ungoverned.

Huma Dangi Chetri runs a women's shelter.

SOUNDBITE (Nepali) Human Dangi Chetri, Saubhagya Women Saving and Credit Cooperative:
"The peace accord gave us hope we'd finally have a lawful society, but it hasn't happened. Violence continues and the state doesn't stop it. Women are being kidnapped, raped and killed."
 
Human rights advocates were more optimistic in 2008, when constituent assembly elections were held. One third of the seats were reserved for women.

Nepalis are now making a new effort to address women's concerns, as Resolution 1325 called for. There were hearings in July which focused on how to support conflict victims and involve women in creating a secure peace.

Sushma has advice for leaders trying to carry out the Security Council's recommendations.

SOUNDBITE (Nepali) Sushma:
"Victims from both sides should be compensated for the miseries they endured in the war, and they should be brought together for reconciliation."