The Government of Nepal has announced a new rule for the protection of women. Under this, if a woman wants to travel abroad, she has to get permission from her family and the local ward.
The law covers women over the age of 40. Nepali officials have expressed support for the new rule.
According to officials, a new rule has been enacted to prevent vulnerable Nepali women from becoming victims of human trafficking. According to Ramesh Kumar of Nepal’s Department of Transport, human smugglers prey on weak, uneducated and poor women by claiming lucrative jobs abroad.
These women are sexually abused and many other crimes are committed. According to Ramesh Kumar, women below 40 years of age do not need such documents for traveling abroad. This new rule is for women who are weak and traveling abroad for the first time.
Furthermore, this rule is particularly applicable in lonely and dangerous African and Gulf countries where Nepali women do not get work permits. According to data released by the National Human Rights Commission, around 35,000 people, including 15,000 women and 5,000 girls, were trafficked in 2018.
Opposition of women activists
Activists working for women’s rights have strongly opposed the proposal. They have opposed this new rule from social media to the streets. He called the regime unconstitutional and an attempt to violate women’s freedom of movement and right to life.
The law will come into effect in a few months
According to the Nepal Labor Migration Report 2020, labour permits have been issued to 3.5 million people in the country to work abroad. Only 5 percent of them are women. The new rule has been sent to the Ministry of Home Affairs for implementation and is expected to come into force next month.
SOURCE: FLA News
