 |
| Sinja Valley, part of Badki village, Buna belonged with this village which is far from 12 hours walk to reach headquarter |
 |
| Buna was sitting as chief Guest in 16 days VAW program in 2012 , Jumla |
 |
| She was sitting along with Women Development Officer |
 | ||||
She spoke on program as chief guest, what happened in SAFE HOUSE, Jumla
|
 |
| Preparing for funeral by neighbors and I was there with bag (Pink) |
 | ||
Preparing at the bank of Tila River , Jumla
Buna Rokaya, a Martyar: Governemnt
Failed to Provide Justice
Not
surprisingly, Nepal has the best policy to ensure the rights of women and girls
in many ways. Likewise, Nepal is operating thousand of NGOs and Human
Right/Women Right/Right Activists across the Nepal and it is increasing in
trend to seen many right based organizations and individuals. Unfortunately,
the ratio of killing, kidnapping, acid attack, and other forms of violence is
shooting drastically. During the month of the Mangsir (November-December),
2012, 18 Nepali women killed at the name of various reasons but all fall under
the Gender Based Violence (GBV) broadly. The government who is the key
institutions is failed to provide safety and security even in the immigration
office or within the premises of court, police office, office of Women and
Child Development Office or at Safe House etc. Women and gilrs are not safe and
secure at home, street, school, workplace and everywhere.
Usually
the GBV cases are not heard from the west part of the Nepal specially Far West
and Mid West due to lack of documentation and responsive civil society
organizations and networks as well as government ignored the surveillance
mechanism in entire governing mechanism largely. Only very devastating cases or
cases which are not disguise at any cost, are come out for discussion which is already too late to revive the
person and become very complex issues.
While
celebrating the 16 days activism in globally 2012, Nepal is paying active role,
many women were killed due to gender based violence. Among them, Bunu Rokaya
is one from the Badki village of Jumla district, Karnali. She is 35 years old,
having three children. She had 2 years girl from the second marriage. Her
husband raped him indeed while sleeping with other two children after death of
her first husband. He committed to love
and marriage so she remained quite but she become pregnant. About five months,
her sister in-law recognized and explored the situation. Finally, villagers
made consensus and the guy and his family accept as her. She started to stay
that house but her husband didn't pay much attention as he committed during
rape and after in front of the villagers. The days pass on, she had disputes
with mother in-laws several times at the name of kids and other things. One
day, by the help of friend, she came to Women Development Office, a
government's primary entity to address violence of women's right. She started
to stay in the `Safe House' or `Shelter' with her small girl. According to the
safe house norms, this is temporary shelter, allow to stay only for 15 days and
required special Constitution for more than that. But she was there more than 35
days.
In
Dec 8, she was the chief guest along with Chief Justice (District Court) and
inaugurated the program jointly. She also spoke in front of the public and ask
to provide immediate support to reintegrate home. Her husband has already left
home and went to Achham for taking care of goats. So she wanted to back as
early as possible because of her two kids. She demanded simply to create
enabling environment to initiate dialogue or mediation where her mother in laws
involved and get rid of from such violence in future.
All
concerned stakeholder; Women Development Office (WDO), Chief of Safe House and
Police Officer, were there. It was informed to Chief District Office and almost
all district organizations somehow aware on it. Instead of getting prompt
justice, she observed the disputes between WDO and safe house.
Meantime, the
police, LDO and CDO also knew about it , she was waiting and waiting with all
circumtances at safe house, psychological state due to her children at home. Unfortunately
she losed her mental state and become depressive (as mentioned by the
villagers). Finally, she committed suicide at the evening in Dec 15, 2012. Due
to passing the comments to each others and families matters, again took a time
even doing postpartum. After 2 days discussion, CDO, activists and others
managed to inform family members and negotiated with them. In Dec 18, postpartum done and also did the death ritual in Tila
River. During death ritual, except family members, none of the activist,
representatives of CDO, WDO, safe house representatives were there except Radha
Paudel, President of Action Works Nepal. She was only one woman to join the
deah ritual. People said that it was a first even where woman involved in death
ritual.
In
the morning, 19 Dec, 2012, relatives had meeting and also invited civil society
organizations and others in order to inquirer with CDO about the further plan.
CDO had has almost zero plan for further. Almost all participants spoke up and
blamed to the CDO for its negligence. Later, CDO agreed to formed an Inclusive
Investigation Committee and provide immediate relief support to three kids and
their long term plan. The committee extended its date three days more that
applied the end day of 2012. The relatives and neighbors were enthusiastic to
support her, later the degree of support, emotions, commitment just faded up.
Personally, the formation of investigation committee biased and not properly
workout. Indeed, it was policy matters in working gender based violence (GBV)
and its response specially safe house.The role of district women, child welfare
office and safe house are critical areas to review, analysis to respond GBV.
I
was shocked and can’t sleep that night, sometimes, I saw Buna and her life in
dream. I honored to meet her, assist her
and participate in her death rituals and justice mechanism so far. I brought
the issue in to the national policy discourse. A safety and security of SAFE
House included in the demand of GBV movement including Occupy Baluwatar 2013.
Because it is not a joke to come out
home, speak up against family members in Karnali. Buna lived in such as far and
traditionally faith village. Further, she was raped and managed later in rapist
home. She had more two children. Due to having many dimensions within herself
and her society, she came to seek support to Women Development Office but not
get the adequate and proper support as supposed to get. Later, she caught
severe depression and commit suicide.
she came to the government (a concerned stakeholder) for her legal and
other essential treatment.
In addition, she was a chief guest
during the interaction program in Dec 8, 2012. She was my source of
inspiration. I got opportunity to address because of survivors of gender based
violence. Thus, she was martyr for me though no one talk about it and I also
didn't like to disclose at that moment but felt guilt. So I wrote this blog for
salute her contribution to women's right movement.
|
