Protests in Nepal

  • Protesters, mostly social activists, writers and journalists are out on the streets in Nepal against a proposed law that puts restrictions on foreign travel for women below age 40. 

THE LAW

  • The proposed law requires that any woman below 40, if travelling abroad, needs to present a letter of consent from the guardian of her family — implying a male member — or from the ward office, specifying the reason of travel. 
  • The protesters call their agitation an assertion of their right to justice from “an establishment controlled by males and insensitive towards women rights and dignity”.
  • Neither faction of the Nepal Communist Party has responded to the proposed immigration law.

WHY THE LAW

  • Besides rape cases, a larger number of Nepali women are trafficked to the Middle East.
  • These complaints were cited as the reason for proposing the law by immigration officials. 

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