NEPAL: Stop Torturing Women in Detention

Advocacy Forum, an NGO working for human rights, today called on the government to exercise due diligence to prevent and investigate cases of torture against women in detention and work towards improving the condition of detention for women.

On the occasion of ‘UN International Day in Support of Torture Victims-2011', the forum has published a report based on the information collected during visits to detention centres with the objective of providing movement for further reform.

The report titled ‘Torture of Women in Detention : Nepal's Failure to Prevent and Protect' showed that lack of criminalisation of torture, the widespread impunity and the obstacles in accessing justice for women victims of human rights violations is a threat to women's well-being and security.

On the occasion, the forum reiterated its commitment to assist victims in their quest for justice and carry on with its campaign against impunity.

AF statistics showed that though there has been a gradual decline in torture in the past few years, though torture in detention continues.

In the year 2010, one in every 10 women detained by police was reported to have been

subjected to torture or ill-treatment in 67 government detention facilities.

There is, however, nearly 90 per cent increase in the torture in detention in the first half of the year compared to the second half. Between July and December 2010, 13.9 per cent of women were reportedly tortured compared to seven per cent in the first half of the year.

The report focused on torture, including rape, of women during the conflict. It has recommended that the government and other stakeholders recognise particular risk of abuse that women face in pre-trial detention and adopt appropriate measures to guarantee women's safety during the time they spend in police custody