Case Study

WHR’S WORK TOWARD CONSTITUTIONAL JUSTICE

  1. While the issues of single women (widows) have taken global strides, and it is well known that there is serious discrimination and marginalization of single women (widows) in Nepal, the issues of single women (widows) have not yet been highlighted nor addressed in the Nepali governments’ agenda.
  2. It is through the committed effort of WHR that for the first time, the issues of single woman were incorporated in the 10th 5 year plan and a certain amount of budget was allocated to the single women (widows) groups working at the district level.
  3. WHR has also identified that Nepal has a discriminatory legal system against single woman and it was through the ‘Access to Justice Workshop’ with the help of Ashoka, Nepal that the discriminatory aspects were highlighted and the initial cases against government were filed.
  4. WHR single women (widows) groups at the district level and central level carried out lobby and advocacy campaigns for rights to special social security schemes for single women in the Interim Constitution 2006.
    • Press conferences were held thrice in front of Singha Durbar (Parliament) gate
    • An open petition letter was signed by UN officials at Wilton Park to address the single women issues, which was then submitted to the UN Secretary General and concerned authorities.
    • A paper presentation took place in UK addressing the UK parliamentarians and highlighting the status of single women in Nepal. UK parliamentarian John Ruddock then expressed her concern to the Government of Nepal.
    • A workshop was held to identify and finalize the required constitutional rights of single woman
  5. A letter was submitted to the Interim Constitution Drafting Committee highlighting the required constitutional rights
  6. The Interim Constitution 2006, Part 4, Article 35, clause 9 has acknowledged "single women" under State Directive Principles and Policies. Under this clause the state shall work towards special social security schemes for single women as well.
  7. However we understand that merely placing the social security schemes for single women under Directive Principles and Policies is devaluing the importance of single women issues and thus WHR is now in the process of revising the clause with support from ProPublic, which will be submitted to the second Interim Constitution Drafting Committee which will be revising the Interim Constitution 2006 of Nepal. This revisal is also as a result of the opinions and outcomes derived from the WHR National Workshop held in 30-31st Jan 2007.