What is the worth of a women’s life and who gets to decide the value of her body?
Ayusha Magar was strangled with a shoelace, murdered, and her body dumped in Balaju by Surya Thapa Magar over a dispute of just Rs.500[1]. Her body was discovered only after 10 days. Meena Sherpa (37) was killed by husband Prem Dorchi Sherpa, following a domestic dispute and buried in his cardamom field [2]. In another case from Nuwakot, a domestic disagreement led Sabina’s husband to attack her with Khukuri and kill her. [3] A mother and two daughters were suspected to have been killed by woman’s ex-husband using household weapons in Butwal[4].
Cases of femicide now surface in the news every other day. According, GBV annual fact sheet (2081/82) released by Nepal Police states 73.17% of victims of domestic violence related killings are women with perpetuators most often being husband or individuals in close familial relation with the victims. Similarly, Anbesi 2082, launched by WOREC 921 cases of violence against women were recorded, including 8 murder cases and 2 attempt to murder cases.
INSEC data of Karnali, in the fiscal year 20280/81, nine women were killed by their husbands, while in 2081/82, four such cases were recorded. The INSEC human rights yearbook 2025 documents 27 cases of homicide, with women comprising the majority of the victims. The incidents are brutal and are crossing all limits of humanity.
Similarly, a report released by UN office of drugs and crime and UN women released on International Day for elimination of violence against women based on data from 117 countries says 137 women per day or around 1 woman in 10 minutes are victims of femicide. [5] With the release of report and events on advocacy and awareness going on, it continued even on 16 days campaign for elimination of violence against women where two women Roshni Jha and Paro Devi was killed under suspicious circumstances. [6]
These cases reflect not isolated incidents, but reveal a deeply entrenched pattern of violence against women, sustained by power, control, and systemic impunity. In one case of Suvakalika, ward no 4, a husband killed his wife by burning her alive following severe physical violence. After committing the crime, he confessed to his family, who collectively decided to remain silent. His brother then assisted him in disposing of her body by throwing it down a hillside. This has neither came in media nor any one registered this in Police. This reflects how violence and even death women are normalized in the society. Women are considered as nothing but as a resource; a resource for free labor, reproduction and male gratification. When one is gone then another could come as a substitute.
Although femicide is not explicitly defined in law; “Muliki Ain” addressed murder, assault, rape and other forms of violence. However, deeply entrenched patriarchal beliefs and misogyny rooted in the notion that only men carry the legacy have silenced the society and so many times hindered open confrontation of such crimes.
Equally concerning is the culture of victim blaming and institutional insensitivity that women encounter when seeking justice. In appropriate language, suggestive remarks, and dismissive attitudes by service providers often discourage survivors approaching the police or support services as well as opening about their experiences.
In one incident at eastern Nepal, a government lawyer remarks, “You are so beautiful!” a comment that made her uncomfortable and hesitant to share her testimony. Similarly, while reviewing photographic evidence submitted to prove blackmail, a police officer after looking at the picture of survivor commented, “You have been coming here for so many days but I did not realize you are so beautiful. Can you please open your mask?”. Such remarks might retraumatize survivors. In another case of gang rape in Morang, a police officer while handling the case told the survivor, “The boy looks to be good; it is better if you get married to him.”
These are just a few examples of incidents that highlight a troubling trend of insensitivity and normalization of violence by service provides, undermining survivor dignity, safety, and access to justice, and reinforcing the structures that allow gender-based violence to persist. When service providers normalize violence, justice slips out of reach for survivors. The question is no longer where survivors should go, but when we will clean our own lenses through which we see them, because a messy lens can never deliver survivor centric lenses.
Though Article 38 in constitution of Nepal specifies Rights of women ensuring prolonged inclusion and rights against violence and exploitation; lengthy and complex legal process often compels the survivors to withdraw their cases or accept hostile settlements, leading to re-traumatization rather than justice. Team members of WOREC working at districts, who are directly engaged in survivor centric case management, have consistently reported similar experience across multiple locations. While we have always been in forefront of challenging the systemic barriers for over three decades, advocating from streets to the house of parliaments, we have been constantly slowed done by the gender biases. These gender biases are sometimes unconscious and often times deliberate that continue to marginalize women.
The recent Gen Z protest has further heightened safety risks for survivors, WHRDs and organization facilitating legal and protection services to survivors. The destruction of government service infrastructure has disrupted essential services, and budgets originally allocated for survivor support are being diverted towards infrastructure reconstruction. As a result, when survivors seek assistance, they are frequently turned away. In one of our implementation Palika, elected representatives and municipal staff reportedly told WOREC team members, “Do whatever you can, we are closing our door and cannot provide services. Go to Gen Z to seek support.” Municipality safe house of Dang have not been taking any survivors due to the constrain in budget resulted after Gen Z movement.
Compounding these challenges, the “Nyayik Samiti (Judicial committee)” remain inactive in many Palikas, further weaking already fragile local support mechanism. In cases of violence, survivors are often expected to approach elected representative at their residence to seek support, an approach which has breached survivor confidentiality and safety. While we are supporting survivors through comprehensive approach; from emergency assistance starting from safe shelter to legal aid to reintegration a broader advocacy aiming to dismantling these biases the aftermath of Gen Z movement has directly impacted the support system.
Moreover, the destruction and loss of critical evidence and legal documents have made it extremely difficult for survivors to pursue justice. In one case of Madhesh, a survivor was unable to obtain her citizenship certificate because the Palika office was affected by the movement, effectively blocking her access to legal remedies and essential services. Such situations underscore the urgent need for the government to establish alternative and emergency legal support mechanism to ensure continuity of survivor services during crises.
In a more alarming development, a total of 13,500 prisoners are reported to have escaped from various prisons nationwide [7]. Though some of the prisoners have been recaptured, 12533 are still at large [8]. Similarly, jail breaks in Saptari, Mahottrari, Gaur and Jaleshowr jail[9] have heightened the risk of survivors across Madhesh province. No specific data of recapturing of inmates are available, creating uncertainty about the extent of potential risk and danger.
Bishnu Regmi- “I was forced to leave my hometown because I supported a rape survivor during her legal battle, which resulted in the perpetrators being sent to jail. When I hear the news about criminals escaping from prison, I feel afraid — especially now, as there have been many such escapes. My fear intensified when I learned that the offenders involved in the Rajpur case had also escaped. They were imprisoned on charges related to a witchcraft case and had previously threatened me, saying they would come after me once released. Now that they’ve escaped, some of them have even approached my relatives in my village, asking about my whereabouts. I am also getting calls from survivors, they more afraid than me.”
A CDO of district of west part of Nepal- “Everything has been destroyed. People are asking us for security, but we ourselves are living in fear and insecurity. It’s becoming increasingly difficult to provide protection to civil society under these conditions.”
These developments have significantly increased the risk of violence, particularly in women, children and people form marginalized and vulnerable groups. They have also led to a breakdown in local security mechanism and severely strained the capacity of existing shelters, limiting access to emergency protection and safety support at ta time when it is most needed.
Overall, the evidences presented here reflects a deeply concerning picture of gender-based violence in Nepal, not only marked by the alarming frequency of femicide but also systemic failures in prevention, protection and justice.
While data from police, hospitals and human right organizations conform the scale of violence faced by women, survivors continue to be retraumatized by insensitive service delivery, prolonged legal processes, inactive local justice mechanism and the breakdown of institutional support during periods of unrest. These intersecting failures endanger women, children and people from marginalized groups and hence reinforcing the cycle of impunity and silence. Raising voices of the survivors who have been silences by both patriarchy and the structures of the society cannot be achieved single handedly. We, feminist groups and organizations continue to resist resulting to continue our struggle to dismantle patriarchy. Addressing this crisis requires urgent, coordinated action to restore survivor centric services and ensure accountability across service providers.
[1]https://english.onlinekhabar.com/woman-killed-over-rs-500-body-found-10-days-later-in-balaju-cleanup-drive.html
[2] https://kathmandupost.com/national/2025/12/14/man-arrested-on-charge-of-killing-wife-in-sankhuwasabha
[3] https://english.nepalnews.com/s/crime-news/man-kills-wife-over-domestic-dispute-in-nuwakot/
[4] https://clicknepal.com/2025/05/27861/
[5] https://www.unwomen.org/en/articles/explainer/five-essential-facts-to-know-about-femicide
[6] https://english.pardafas.com/suspicious-death-of-woman-in-dhanusha-triggers-police-investigation/
[7] https://www.khaleejtimes.com/world/asia/nepal-protest-prisoners-escape
[8] https://www.ictj.org/latest-news/nepal-protest-death-toll-reaches-51-12500-prisoners-remain-run
[9] https://myrepublica.nagariknetwork.com/news/983-prisoners-escape-from-three-madhesh-jails-security-forces-in-search-ope-79-75.html