The Women and Children Service Centre under the Metropolitan Police Commissioner’s Office has rescued as many as 26 women and children facing violence against them in the Kathmandu Valley in the first five months of this fiscal. 

According to the MPCO, 12 women, eight boys and six girls were among the rescued between mid-July and mid-December while as many as 53 women, 28 boys and 15 girls were rescued between mid-April and mid-July. The destitute women and children were found to have been subjected to physical and mental torture by their masters in houses and restaurants where they were forced to do menial jobs. Besides, some of the rescued were put to domestic violence. 

After their rescue, they were handed over either to their respective families or to authorised rehabilitation centres. “When it comes to handing over the rescued, parents or relatives are the priority, but if they feel insecure in the family, they are handed over to authorised institutions or rehabilitation centres,” said an official at the WCSC. 

Officials admit that several cases of domestic violence go unreported due to the fear of social stigma. However, women rights activists blame the absence of effective mechanism to provide immediate rescue and rehabilitation for victimised women as the main reason why gender-based violence cases are not reported.

Established in 2000 with a view to tackling crime against women and children, the WCSC is working in coordination/ collaboration with all the metropolitan police ranges and circles in the Valley. According to officials, all ranges and circles have established a WCSC branch under their ambit for the purpose. Besides carrying out investigations, it is also mobilising a van for promptly rescuing and rehabilitating victims.

Despite campaigns to eliminate violence against women and children, the practice continues in the country, and on many cases such cases go unreported. Rights activists have been calling for stringent laws to punish those who commit VAW.

Published on: 25 December 2014 | The Himalayan Times