Link: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1l-0AvPu3wutj9eZMW-onZzhueq_9NJUu/view?fbclid=IwAR1JoR0VxDGEqNspViigyOgwA7Li5ySFtq9u3G1r2ilCqbbPydrwa2BEl9A
1.
Please introduce yourself to our readers.
I am Radha Paudel, Nurse, Author,
Activist and Founder for global network called Global South Coalition for
Dignified Menstruation.
2.
What was the deciding factor or experience that led you to step
into women and humanitarian rights?
It has long story, about forty
years or since childhood. The traumatic experience from the menstrual
discrimination at the age of 7 was one of the key driving force to convert as
transformative leader. Additionally, I witnessed the hardship from poverty,
deprivation and survival from war which shape my goal of life.
3.
Your work as a nurse has led you to witness and experience many
things. Do you think that your profession in medicine has affected your
personality, values, and your ability to respond to women's rights
issues?
Before joining the nursing
profession, I was peace rebellion for justice at home, school and community. Of
course, my exposure in Operation Theater as an anesthetic nurse, sharpen my
knowledge, skills specially making decisions in very difficult situations, and
resilience to work with limited resources. I have master’s degrees in public
health, sociology and development but my nursing profession (up to bachelor
degree) works as fabric. It was so easy to reach out the minds and hearts of
agitated groups during the course of Maoist insurgency or Madhesh movement or
boarder blockade or earthquake or flood or COVID-19 pandemic. Nursing gives me
the power for robust the emotional intelligence on my work.
4.
You have written many books that put across your passion and your
efforts. What made you first start writing and what does writing mean to you?
I am have been writing since
childhood. I remembered that it was grade 4 by writing and reciting poems.
Whatever I wrote book or poem or story or article, it’s for two reason. First I
felt suffocation, exclusion because no one see the issues what I see. I was
alone in crowd. No one listening me then I write. Its therapy for me.
Meanwhile, other side of the coin, its for social transformation. How could I
engaged the people towards the idea as I see or work. Coming from very poor,
rural and non-political background, I struggle so much for creating space for
me. I chose path in every aspect very challenging and I inspired from challenges.
So writing is just documentations of my challenges and ways to inspire and
transform.
5.
What motivates you the most to keep working as a humanitarian
activist?
The childhood stories which were
traumatic for me, the life of my mother and the girls, women and others who are
struggling in a same manner even after 40 years.
I received all kinds of threatens
including life killing and merely zero funding though I am trying my best to
represent the girl, women and others all around the globe.
6.
If you could, is there anything you would change or do differently
from your earlier years as an activist?
I am desperate to learn and I am
transforming myself every day. I review and take corrective actions every day.
I wanted to focus on evidence based advocacy at the global level around
dignified menstruation. I wanted to do more researches, allies with national,
regional, global networks and urge to change the narratives from hygiene to
dignity to all identities and throughout their life cycle.
7.
How has Nepal society’s approach to gender equality shifted over
the past few decades?
There is huge changes in policy
since 2007 but merely the absence in practice. Many of the stakeholders
(providers and claimer) do not aware well about the essence and process for it.
Regards to the dignified menstruation, its just beginning and long way to go
though Nepal is pioneering country for it and crucial means for achieving gender
equality.
8.
Other cultures apart from Chhaupadi have been outlawed but
enforcement remains weak. What is your opinion on other cultures such as dowry,
witchcraft, or child marriage?
It’s sad
to share that the merely almost all stakeholders from government to experts,
they do not see the menstrual discrimination is underlying cause for power
imbalance, inequality and gender norms. Menstrual discrimination includes a
range of taboos, stigma, shyness, restrictions, abuses, violence associated
with menstruation throughout the life cycle of the menstrurators in all
identities. The Chhaupadi is a local language use in few districts in west
Nepal but the menstruation discrimination is prevails across the world with
differences in names, forms and magnitude. Thus, the child marriage, dowry or
witchcraft are the outcomes of menstrual discrimination. Since 1962 UN and its
stakeholders started to work against child marriage globally but the pace of
reduction is very slow. Menstrual discrimination plays to construct the power,
body image and autonomy since childhood around 6-9 years. Therefore, without
initiating the dialogue on dignified menstruation from home, merely possible to
address other forms of gender based violence including child marriage.
9.
In your opinion, what is the government’s role in tackling
gender-related issues, such as Chhaupadi?
Government
has recognized the all forms of discrimination associated with menstruation.
Therefore, considered dignified menstruation is flagship program of Ministry of
Women, Children and Senior Citizen. Government urged to all to mark the
dignified menstruation day for 8th December since 2019 and
incorporate it across all programs. Also co-host the international workshop on
dignified menstruation 2020 first of its kinds. If the government seriously
take actions as it’s promised and pioneer for dignified menstruation.
10.
You have experienced many representative positions and also have
founded some impressive organizations. What difference is there between working
alone as an activist and working together in an organization?
Both are
so much challenging. While I worked as employee, I often found alone and
excluded due to not able to make pleased and representing the voice of
voiceless as mentioned in project documents. I had hard time to compromise with
my integrity and ethics. For small level of impact, have to spend so much
energy to cross the barriers and reaching out the people who were in as like my
childhood. Eventually, I quit such jobs and accept the life without any
luxuries.
In other
hand, I founded many organizations and networks including the Global South
Coalition for Dignified Menstruation (GSCDM). GSCDM is initiated without
funding and leading such an innovative and holistic approach of dignified
menstruation. For it, the rigorous researches, publication, piloting the models
and reach out the global community which is heavily compromised due to not
having funding. If there is no funding, everyone say `nice’ but no one like to
partner or support for cause. Working with limited resources including human
resources in such competitive world from global south who has already living in
minority, is very challenging. But I am enjoying my hardship because this is my
choice and I do not like to cheat myself at least.
11.
Do you face discrimination and injustice working in leadership
positions as a woman?
Since day
one, I worked in leadership position effective from my nurse job. The
discrimination and threatening are very common in my life within family
(specially I was in minority and abandoned since I started to work in
organizations which I founded means no income), country and everywhere they do
not like see me or hear my name. I have dozens of examples of it including life
killing threatens.
12.
What were the main challenges, social stigmas you had to overcome
when establishing your organizations and foundation?
Oh, do
not ask. It takes for 7 days to explain. Person like me who work and from rural,
poor, non-political or any connection with powerful people at capital city,
have to experiences challenges at every steps. The very harsh NGO culture here
in Nepal. No one like to see or hear from the person or organization without
funding. No one respect for cause or passion. In addition, I am very logical,
straight and focusing on very ignored, overlooked issue `menstruation’.
Therefore neither I nor cause or any team members of mine are choice of
beaurocrates or NGOs or funders. I speak with evidences, with integrity and for
poor, vulnerable and socially excluded people so I am in exclusion. I do not
have land or house or car or job so I am not their choice.
At the
global level, Nepal and person like me from Nepal is not important at all. They
all like to use me or my story but not ready to accept me as leader. I was
challenged and threatened at global level as well. Everyone preached about
inclusion, empowering women leaders from global south but no one like to do in
practice. If not, the GSCDM and dignified menstruation should not struggle as
this level.
13.
Due to the establishment of your organization, what kind of
improvements have you observed in society?
Despite
hardship and exclusion, there are huge impacts at all levels. Often I see the
impact is much wider and deeper.
At the
global level, many universities, forums, networks recently interested towards
the dignified menstruation as a cross cutting issue. We spoke at UN-CSW65, Men
Engage Alliance –Global and others. The articles also publish around
menstruation. We conducted international workshop on Dignified menstruation in
2020. We have already started the preparatory work for global summit for
Dignified Menopause for to mark the international dignified menstruation day 2021.
We initiated the dignified menstruation day for 8th December since
2019. We are the pioneer for dignified menstruation. The GSCDM will be moving
forward where the stakeholders from various walks are joined from across the
globe as speaker, member or country coordinator.
At the
national level, the ministries (ministry of women, Ministry of Health, Ministry
of Education, Ministry of water supply) started to work around dignified
menstruation where the ministry of women has more scope. The law has already
formed. Few organizations are started to work on dignified menstruation on
their own.
At the
local level, dozons of CSOs, NGOs are working around dignified menstruation. Just
recently, the number of stakeholders are increasing towards dignified
menstruation.
14.
We would love to be a part of raising awareness about what the
‘International Dignified Menstruation Day’ represents and why it should be
celebrated. Could you briefly introduce what the ‘International Dignified
Menstruation Day’ is to our readers and what role we can partake in it?
At first,
the 16 days activism against the violence for girls and women is global
campaign for prevention of various forms of SGBV, celebration of success around
it and promotion of human right, for 16 days every year from November 25 to
December 10 since 1991. Here, the menstrual discrimination itself a form of
SGBV in many ways according to UN. Menstrual discrimination affected the lives
of menstrurators from womb to tomb even after the death in some culture.
According to the UN categorization, there is violence directly related with
menstrual discrimination. The physical assault (beating, biting, burning,
kicking), punishment for defying cultural norms are under physical violence,
the verbal abuse, confinement, social exclusion, humiliation, manipulation are
under the emotional/psychological violence, the attempted rape, rape, sexual
assault, sexual exploitation are under sexual violence and the denying girls
their right to education, giving boys/men preferential access to food or
services are under the denial of access to resources and services. Therefore,
menstrual discrimination is purely a form of SGBV and violation of human right
in many ways. It plays role for cause and effect of SGBV too. For instance, the
denial the right to education is itself of the violation of human right. It
leads for child or early marriage. That leads to early child bearing and might
get complications and also impact on economic opportunities in short. Thus,
dignified menstruation is an element of 16 days activism.
Second,
all stakeholders must be clear on the language. Because language construct the
mind set and guide to choose the behavior in common sense of human
civilization. The history, background and practice of menstrual hygiene day is
for water, sanitation, products and infrastructure. These are important
elements for DM but not guarantee the dignity of menstrurators throughout the
life cycle within all identities. RPF/GSCDM urge to called dignified menstrual
hygiene day which help to bring the stakeholders towards the dignity of menstrurators.
Talking constantly about hygiene also often allow to think or reinforce the
idea of menstrual blood is impure and dirty that is why menstrurators should
care or hide. The suicide of 14 years girls in Kenya in 2019 where the
government initiated free menstrual pad scheme since 2017, was an example to
rethink more loudly around the impact of menstrual discrimination among us
DM is for
reconstruction of the power that constructed and shape since childhood. Any
form of menstrual discrimination leads the idea of menstrurators are an
`impure’, `inferior’ `powerless’ and disadvantaged. In other hand, the
non-menstrurators considered `pure’, `superior’, `powerful’, and `privileged’.
Due to deep silence and ignorance around menstruation at home and school, where
both are mostly feeling of `shocked’, `disgusted’, `discomfort’, `surprised’,
`hated’, and so one which constantly feed to them and community that the
menstrurators are inferior and others are superiors. The unequal power
relations and gender norms formed and practiced in a way that become culture or
tradition or taken for granted. Eventually, the SGBV is manifested in many
ways. Globally, one out of three women experienced SGBV at their life time but
it does not reflect all forms of violence that occurred from menstrual
discrimination. In order to deconstruct and reconstruct the power, the dialogue
on dignified menstruation should constantly happen everywhere. As a result, the
menstrurators considered themselves pride and acknowledge that they deserved
the dignity and non-menstrurators acknowledge the essence of menstruation or
presence of planet. For achieving overarch goal of gender justice and human
right, needs to celebrate the menstruation throughout 24/7. Practically, which
is not possible therefore dedicated day for DM significantly urgent and
important. Finally, DM is urging everyone through the lens of human right
across all sectors and levels therefore chose the month of December as human
right month.
The first
year, 2019, was marked with the slogan of `Dignified Menstruation for
preventing SGBV and promotion of Human right’. In 2020, the dignified
menstruation day marked with `menstrual talk, dignity first’ in many
ways and almost throughout year. This year, the
number of countries and organizations would go higher and the day will be
marking with `Dignified Menopause is a Human Right not a Privileges.’
15.
Could you explain in your own words how respecting the dignity of
menstruation impacts women's participation?
Across
the globe, the dining table or kitchen is the primary level of parliament or
political participation. And the other institutions like school workplace or
anywhere wherever they are, they are exercising the power including the house
of representative. For instance, the 9 out of 10 menstrurators experienced
anxiety in UK (2021) and 63 % women do not feel comfortable to go outside;
school, workplace or market, due to fear of leaking and shyness in Canada. If any menstrurators, unable to participate
with dignity or with freedom and liberty as we all agreed in International
Human Right Declaration, how could we achieve the goal of political
participation or SDGs. More importantly, the self image, self esteem, self
autonomy and self-determination are formed during childhood. If the girls are
living with dignity before having menstruation or six years onwards, she could
claim the political space wherever she stands otherwise she even cannot say
`no’ to her siblings of parents if she would experience bad touch or inhuman
response at home. Thus, dignified menstruation significantly a key factor for
building agency and claiming political realms.
16.
The Radha Paudel Foundation has amazing responses to the effects
of COVID-19. When the pandemic took effect, what did you feel was a priority
and how did you respond to it?
Since
beginning of its foundation, it has been intensively engaged in any crisis. I
was following the news of BBC Nepali service and knew about the deaths of COVID
infected people due to not having oxygen. As an anesthetic nurse, I know the
value of oxygen per breath. I literally crying for a while. I recalled my late
mother who often told me that the crying is not solution. So I started to make
groups across all social media and appealed for support. It really worked out
indeed. I deed same as during devastating earthquake in 2015. I can’t just see
or close my eyes while the poor people are suffering.
17.
What is the next step you are planning to take in the Radha Paudel
Foundation?
Desperately
looking for building the global momentum for dignified menstruation through
research, networking, alliance building and policy advocacy. Looking for very
passionate, dynamic youths who can take the space of mine as legacy because I
believe in Miteri where the mutual love and respect works beyond blood and
marriage or by cause. I strongly believe that no one born by choice and
everyone’s live is precious equally.
18.
What would you like to say to the youth who would like to pursue
women's rights as women leaders?
Please…, please…., please… do not deviate with your goal. Do not
trust blindly to crowd. Do feel always your are half empty means ready to
delearn and learn. Keep doing with passion, people and money will come to shake
hands towards you. If any of you like to work with me (physically or virtually)
feel free to reachout. I only have a condition, that is consistency and passion
again.
