Men’s March to end violence against women

Pads will be distributed to male participants

Kathmandu, March 8
Men’s March to end violence against women is being organized on the occasion of the International Women’s day 2018. The program has been organized with the collaboration of more than 20 organizations working in the women’s sector.
The men are involved in the program as their voices matter in providing justice to the women.

‘It is very difficult for women to get justice. Therefore, the voices of the people including both men and women from all the sector of society and the organizations working in the women’s issue have to be very strong,’ the press release read, ‘Thus, in this context, the march has been organized since 2014 to include men equally for the fight against violence and their solidarity for women’s right to be the human rights.

Only, women are raising voices in this regard although women’s rights have been the national issue. The press release has stated this problem to be the main reason why many achievements gained in relation to the women’s right could not long last.

‘Rape, domestic violence, cultural violence on women and dramatic agreement in the same, has led impunity and increased further violence in the society,’ the press release said.

According to the statement, there is a need for men to engage in the fight against serious crimes like rape, reconciliation of police and public representatives in these cases where women are not safe even at the age of 2 or 80. And, the voices of the women from marginalized group and who are not in the mainstream, against these serious violence and crimes are feeble.

The march will be held on March 8, 2018 starting all the way from Maitighar Mandala, Bhadrakali, Shahidgate, Bir Hospital and end at Shantiwatika of Ratnapark.

The inauguration of the march will be done by Kalyan Shrestha, the former Chief Justice and the member of the Male Network Against the Women’s Violence of United Nations General Secretary.
After the march, the poems will be read; a drama on Chaupadi (a menstrual taboo in Nepal) will also be played in the program. Women’s day is celebrated on March 8 worldwide.

Pads will be distributed to male participants
On the occasion of International Women’s Day, pads will be distributed to the participants. According to the organizers, the men will be given pads that women use during periods for making men responsible for ensuring women’s health and cleanliness during the menstruation.

‘The participants will give the pads to their sister, friend, wife or the mother. The pads will be distributed to break the social stigma against the period as it is regarded very personal and private subject assuming it unhygienic and the subject of shame,’ the statement said.