• Background
• Overall Objective
• Purpose
• Program Strategies
• Major Actions
• Program Outreach
• Watch Groups

Background

Violence is one of the strong causes that hinder the entire development of women. Women in politics are being victimized in the violence of common nature and types, such as psychological, physical, social, political and economic. These are some of the major causes hindering women's participation in politics as a whole. However, governments in most of the South Asian countries are reluctant to introduce strong mechanisms to reduce violence against women in politics. Rape, misconduct and physical abuses are rampant on women participating in elections. The society also considers the woman of having a bad character, if she participates in politics and stand for elections. This also accounts for deplorable levels of women participation in politics and at the higher echelons of decision-making. To end violence against women in politics (VAWIP), it is essential to challenge and change the existing social traditions, norms and attitude towards women's participation and status in society, sensitize the entire family members, community and society to eliminate such disparity, build pressure on States to implement gender-friendly code of ethics.

'Violence Against Women in Politics' (VAWIP) a two year program was initiated by SAP-Nepal from January 2006 with the financial support of SAP-International and Oxfam NOVIB. The objective of the program is to contribute toward creating enabling environment to establish democratic practices for inclusion of marginalized women in political decision-making process. The program is focused on promoting greater qualitative participation from among diverse groups of women in politics and promoting accountability and transparency among political parties in Nepal .

Collecting information on the cases of violence and sharing among stakeholders through appropriate means of communication is one of the significant aspects of VAWIP. Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) of the country thus need to develop collective agenda to address the issues of VAWIP by establishing a national forum and implementing collective actions.

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Overall Objective

Contribute to create enabling environment for establishing democratic practices for inclusion of marginalized women in political decision-making processes.

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Purpose

• To promote greater qualitative participation of diverse groups of women in politics
• To promote accountability and transparency among political parties

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Program Strategies

• Enhancing collaborative approach for promoting good governance and democratic practices
• Maintaining rights based approach against corrupt governance
• Searching for alternative gender sensitive framework and actions of good governance and inclusive democracy
• Enhancing a role for the forum in creating culture of good governance
• Enhancing a sustainable mechanism and process for policy influencing

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Major Actions

• Advocacy on
• Right to qualitative participation for and devolution of power to the marginalized women in politics
• Effective practice of transparency and accountability in the political parties

 

• Alliance building among like minded groups, organizations and networks for
• Policy influencing for reduction of violence against women in politics
• Promoting networks for working on women in politics

 

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Program Outreach

VAWIP program has been implemented in the eight districts ( Rupandehi, Kaski, Banke, Bardia, Siraha, Udayapur, Makwanpur and Chitwan) of four development regions of the country.

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Watch Groups