How young activists are trying to reshape the movement against sexual violence in Nepal

Following the flash mob organised on October 10 in Maitighar Mandala, Kathmandu, similar performances were held in many parts of the country, like Dang, Hetauda, Nawalpur, Sindhuli, Biratnagar, Mahendranagar, Dhangadi and Birtamod. She is blindfolded. Leading more than two dozen women, who also have their eyes covered, she slowly and carefully walks towards Maitighar Mandala. There is fear in her mind. The pandemic has not subdued in the slightest, in fact cases are increasing dangerously by the day. What if she and her friends get infected because of the gathering? What if the police arrest them? Yet, she has never felt this brave. Even though her heart is racing, she, along with 24 young girls, starts chanting: “Balatkari Hos Ta…” (which translates to ‘You are a Rapist’). “It was my first experience of coming out onto the streets and protesting like this,” says Prakriti Bhattarai Basnet, recalling what she felt on October 10, when she led a flashmob to draw attention to the rising number of rape and sexual violence cases in the country. Data at the Nepal Police shows 2,144 cases of rape and 687 cases of attempted rape were reported in the fiscal year 2019-20 an increase […]

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