From the Himalayas to the green paddy fields of the Terai, Nepal’s diverse landscape mirrors the diverse communities that call it home. Yet, gender inequality persists across all regions and all societal levels.
GENDER EQUALITY INTERNATIONALLY
Gender inequality is not just an issue facing Nepal, internationally, movement towards equality has been stubbornly slow. Gender equality is a fundamental human right and listed as one of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals with a variety of social and economic benefits, and yet discriminatory practices remain widespread.
Whilst a global issue, its severity varies from country to country. Nepal ranks 116th out of 146 nations on the Global Gender Gap Index as per the World Economic Forum. Gender inequality in Nepal is embodied in laws and traditions that affect all aspects of women and girls’ lives.
SO, WHAT ARE THE ISSUES IN NEPAL?
Despite some progress, patriarchal norms still heavily influence gender roles leading to discrimination of women and girls. Women are expected to shoulder the burden of domestic duties and childcare. In addition, harmful practices like Chhaupadi (where menstruating girls, women and new mothers are forced to stay in ‘exclusion huts’), persist despite being outlawed. For adolescent girls, Chhaupadi also means that a girl’s education is frequently disrupted, as they are often required to stay at home whilst they are menstruating. Families facing poverty or with limited resources may also prioritise investing in their sons’ education over their daughters’.
Child marriage is common, in Rugin where PHASE Worldwide works, 45% of women are married before they are 18. Many women have children when they are very young, often before their bodies are ready and forcing them to drop out of school. This creates a cycle of inequality. Traditional roles assigning men as the ‘breadwinner’ and burdening women with domestic duties, mean that they have very few economic opportunities and limited financial independence. They are vulnerable to gender-based violence and marginalised when it comes to politics or decision making in their communities.
But change is possible. At PHASE Worldwide, we work with communities in several ways to improve health, education, and livelihoods. Our projects have shown that when we increase opportunities for women, many others in the community also benefit, offering a long-term route out of poverty.
Join us below as we take a look at the top 4 ways, we are supporting gender equality in Nepal.
4 WAYS PHASE WORLDWIDE IS HELPING TO ADVANCE GENDER EQUALITY
SUPPORTING GIRLS TO STAY IN SCHOOL
PHASE Worldwide supports girls to stay in education. By educating girls through our Girl’s Empowerment Programmes to challenge outlawed practices like Chhaupadi and manage menstruation, we can break the cycle of inconsistent school attendance. Keeping girls in school helps to reduce the chance of child marriage and pregnancy in adolescence. It also increases access to future economic opportunities.
WORKING WITH BOYS AND THE WIDER COMMUNITY TO CHANGE ATTITUDES
Integral to our work, is including boys and the wider community in conversations about gender equality. By ensuring boys at school also attend gender equality workshops and educating them about the discriminatory practices, we can start to affect real change both in attitudes and the life experiences of women and girls. Street dramas are another crucial way that important gender equality issues are discussed and explored amongst the wider community.
SUPPORTING WOMEN AND GIRLS WITH HEALTH AND REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS
Working in some of the most remote areas of Nepal we look to support the health and reproductive rights of women by training and placing Auxillary Nurse Midwives (ANM’s) at community health posts. By providing maternal health services to women, which include antenatal and perinatal check-ups, we can help to reduce high maternal mortality rates which in Nepal are currently believed to be around 174 per 100,000 (and often higher in remote regions where PHASE works).
ENCOURAGING WOMEN’S ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT
Over 80% of women in Nepal are involved in agriculture and yet very few have access to support. Inconsistent yields (exacerbated by climate change) mean food insecurity and high levels of malnutrition. PHASE Worldwide works to empower female farmers by providing equipment like polytunnels, alongside training. In our ‘Start Strong’ project Agricultural Technicians are working to increase the availability of high value foods. Through chicken rearing and mushroom cultivation, women can feed their families year-round and generate an income leading to greater financial independence.
When women are equal the ripple effects are felt by all. Addressing gender equality is no longer just a matter of justice but it is essential for social and economic progress.
If you would like to support the work of PHASE Worldwide and help us to continue empowering people living in isolated regions of Nepal the best way to do so is through regular giving. Even the smallest amount a month can make a huge difference. As a regular supporter you will receive exclusive updates and will become part of the PHASE family. You can set up your regular gift easily and securely online.
At PHASE Worldwide we want to change lives for the long term. We often ask ourselves if we support a group or community for a few weeks, are we making a difference in the long term. We’ve worked in Nepal for years, and so have had a long time to…
It was a wonderful night, a huge audience, exquisite music and about well over £2,000 raised for PHASE’s work in Nepal. Thank you to everyone that organised, played in and attended the event. Thank you.
We are so please to publish our 2023-24 Impact Report today. Thank you to everyone, PHASE Nepal, Cine Schools, our funders, our supporters and the wider PHASE family for making these achievements possible. Thank you. Impact report 23 – 24 As our financial year runs July…