Menstrual Restriction Practice and its impact on Peace,
Human Right, Empowerment and SDGs in Nepal
Prepared
by Radha Paudel Foundation
Prevalence of the Problem:
Almost Nepalese families are following more than 40 types
restrictions during period regardless of caste, class, education, region,
region where menstrual blood, menstrual girls/women and their belongings are
considered untouchability, dirty, impurity, bad luck[1].
The word of Chhaupadi is being called to the practice of visual segregation during
menstruation but segregation is continuing everywhere as invisible form. Consequently,
girls/women are deprived from the rights as provisioned by Constitution 2015
includes dignity (article 16), freedom (article 17), equality (article 18),
discrimination, contamination (article 24), healthy environment (article 30),
education (article 31), health (article 35), food (article 36), house (article
37), women (article 38). It is continued from centuries due to ignorance, poor
mindset, gender, poverty, unavailability of sanitary products, toilets[2]
(only 37% toilets coverage) with water supply and poor research and policy
attention. Thus, girls/women have been facing immediate and long-term problems
related with reproductive and urinary systems, psychosocial wellbeing,
education, employment, child or early marriage, participation, and often
encountered with rape, sexual abuse, murder, snake and wild animal bite, death
due to extreme hot or cold, suffocation etc. In June-July 2017, 14 years and 19
years young girls died due to snake bite at cowshed during period. Therefore,
the menstruation is serious issue of dignity and human right which is beyond
hygiene and infrastructure.
Critical Areas of Concern:
1.
The word of Chhaupadi is used in very limited
and discriminatory manner. Chhaupadi goth (shed) available in 21 districts
including central part of the country. The underlying cause and forms of
restrictions are same across globe where Nepalese are living therefore needs to
redefine it.
2.
The awareness is very limited by geographic
locations as well as contents because clean sheds or distribution of sanitary
pads are not means for assuring dignity of girls/women in many ways.
Menstruation is human right concern therefore it needs to address in holistic
and dignified manner where health, education, human right, empowerment.
3.
The dignified menstruation is pre-condition for
SDGs where goal 1,2,3,4,5,6 and 8 are directly linked with menstruation.
4.
Ministry of Women, Children and Social Welfare
developed guidelines on Chhaupadi in 2008 as ordered by supreme court but it is
not implemented at all. None of the case reported and punished under this
guideline. In August 2017, government promulgation of law as $30 bail and three
months jail or both but very incomplete. It is not defined the scope of
menstrual restriction.
5.
The Open Defecation Free (ODF) is remarkable
program of the government, but girls/women couldn't use the toilets during
period.
Implementation of Concluding Observation
1.
Government simply mentioned the Chhaupadi
under Stereotyped and harmful traditional practices (Paragarph 17 and 18) which
is very narrow in form or not understand its gravity and magnitude at the life
of girls/women and entire society. Till date, there is no any specific programs
to demystify conditions around menstruation.
2.
Government claimed that the Guidelines on
Chhaupadi in to action with distribution of sanitary pads under the health
(paragraph 31 and 31). None of the case reported under the guidelines on
Chhupadi. And menstruation is not issue of only sanitary pads.
3.
The School Sector Plan developed for
education for all but not demonstrate the enabling environment for girls.
Likewise, the school curriculum also heavily ignored the issue of dignified
menstruation from grade 4-10.
4.
Under the girl child, point no 283 simply refer
the word of Chhaupadi but remained silence of negative consequences due to
menstrual restrictions or Chhaupadi e.g. 60 days absenteeism in a year in
school.
Recommendations
1.
Menstrual restriction is underlying cause of
poor health (physical and mental), education, employment, invisible conflict,
violence of human right, gender-based violence and disempowerment, government deliberatively
EDUCATE about its people on scientific message of menstruation in order
to deconstruct myths, rumours, misconceptions around menstrual restrictions or
Chhaupadi.
2.
By considering the power dynamics and Nepalese
socio, economic and political context, significantly ENGAGE with men,
boys, faith healers, political leaders and media for tangible results.
3.
The ECONOMICALLY EMPOWERMENT could
redress the menstrual restrictions by girls/women.
4.
It is high time to ENACT the policies
including revising religious scriptures/books.
5.
Special attention requires to ensure the ESSENTIAL
supplies of sanitary products includes access and affordability
6.
Urge to ENGAGE all actors who are
working around peace, human right, empowerment and SDGs because menstruation is
not only women's issue, it is everyone’s business because it is human right
concern. Dignified Menstruation is pre-condition to achieve not only SDG
[1]
Paudel Radha, Dignified Menstruation is everyone's bussiness, Radha Paudel
Foundation, 2017,
[2] NPC,2015
