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Despite the ban by the law, banishing women to seclusion during their period continues unabated, taking a toll on the lives of many young girls and women in Nepal.

The 16-year-old rape victim is being taken to District Hospital in Mangalsen on a stretcher. Photo: Ambika Chalaune

Kathmandu: A 16-year-old girl was reportedly raped in the menstrual hut in Panchadeval Binayak Municipality-2  of Achham, a far western district of Nepal.

The girl is understood to have been raped by her maternal uncle, a 17-year-old boy, from the same community.

This is another case of illegal practice of Chhaupadi, a tradition that forces women to stay in seclusion in huts outside their homes during their periods. 

Following the incident, the girl was taken to the local hospital. The girl was brought to the hospital at around 12:40 pm on Tuesday, Ganga Budha Magar, Senior Hospital Nursing Inspector at District Hospital, Achham told The DMN News.

She looked perplexed and could not tell us what had happened, she said. Suspecting something serious, nurses and doctors at the hospital referred her to the One Door Crisis Management Center (OCMC) in the Hospital itself. During the counseling session, the girl shared the incident with the counselor, Magar said. 

Local representatives, police, and locals of Panchadewal Binayak Municipality in Achham pull down a menstrual hut where the girl was staying. Photo: Ambika Chalaune

The incident took place at a time when the girl had gone out to answer nature’s call at around 2:00 am in the wee hours of Monday night, she quoted the girl as saying. 

Narrating the incident to the counselor, she said that the boy, who is related to her maternal uncle, covered her mouth and pushed her in the cornfield. She was already in a half-conscious state by then. The victim also talked about hearing the voices of two other people who were nearby but she could not identify them based on their voices.

According to Magar, the hospital has carried out all the necessary tests. Detailed reports are yet to be received. She is recovering slowly as no wounds are seen in her body after check up.  One of her relatives is there to take care of her. No referral is needed as of now. 

Achham district police have said that they are investigating the incident and the police will carry out a detailed investigation without any delay.

Chhaupadi was outlawed by the Supreme Court of Nepal in 2005. In 2017, the National Penal (Code) Act also criminalizes banishment of menstruating women. But women and girls in Nepal  western region are often subjected to seclusion in huts during menstruation which takes a heavy toll on their physical, mental and social well being.  Apart from risks of sexual violence, some women even lose their lives while in sheds. 

The incident exposes an urgent need to end the inhuman practice: Ambika Chalaune, Mayor, Panchadewal Binayak Municipality

It is a heinous crime meted out against a vulnerable girl. I am unable to understand if we failed to dismantle these menstrual huts or if we failed to dismantle the mentality of people here regarding the superstition related to menstrual seclusion. There are no words to express what she might have gone through. 

We have been working to end this practice but this incident showed that we still have a lot to do. We will not wait until another incident will take place. The municipality will launch a massive campaign to raise awareness, counseling people, and conducting programs to educate people about destigmatizing menstruation. 

I personally feel that law enforcing agencies should also come forward with concrete measures to implement legal provisions with regard to Chhaupadi. Chhaupadi has been criminalized by our laws. We have been educating people about this. But, still we are unable to completely eradicate this practice. Implementing the law is as crucial as making the people aware about the legal provisions. 

It is unfortunate that a girl who was already going through hardships in her life is now going through another disaster. The victim’s mother died when she was even younger. Her father almost abandoned her after the second marriage. Now he lives in India. Since the second marriage of her father, the girl has been staying with her maternal uncle’s family. She only has her 11-year-old brother. 

The municipality has taken the issue very seriously. We will now give attention to the mental health, and rehabilitation aspect of the girl as she has faced something traumatizing. 

We have always neglected our responsibilities and always want someone else to do our share of duty and responsibility. It is more like a blame game we impose on others. The ones that make laws should be strong enough to implement them. There should be 100 percent involvement of political party representatives in implementing laws in such rural areas.