Menstrual Blood

The painting is cool,

It was red in colour,

And from the fresh monthly blood.

The nature is wonderful,

It gives for only girls,

And you are the part of this blood.

Your thinking is ugly,

Calling impure is deep ignorance,

And, indeed pure and safe blood.

Monthly bleeding is power,

Maintain nature and nurture the universe,

Human existence stands with menstrual blood.  

These all paintings made by Dmaris Baker from her menstrual blood Human existence stands with menstrual blood.  

Radha's Experience on Dignified Menstruation and Menstrual Health Management (MHM) and Rights

·         2013 onwards, Key Informant for Global researchers, film makers on MHM and Rights 

restrictions, policies, barriers/challenges and activism

·         2013 onwards, spoke with international media for documentary/films, newspapers, radio etc. such as  Guardian, Discovery, Home Bird, Germany, BNN Netherland, South Korea, Canada, Vergina Loaf Netherland etc.

·         2017, Member for Policy on MHM, Ministry of Water Supply and Sanitation

·         2017, Ministry of Water Supply and Sanitation/WSSCC, Master Training on MHM

·         2017, Ministry of Water Supply and Sanitation/WSSCC

Presented two papers; cross-section of practices and policies on menstrual restriction and Chhaupadi in Nepal (single) and Institutional Mapping of MHM in Nepal (Joint)

·         2017, Swiss Development Cooperation/WASH Consortium

Took the lead role for assessment of MHM activities in WASH consortium (HELVITAS, SWISS Redcross, Terre des Hommes

Took lead role for design and all for organizing regional MHM workshop, Dang

·         2016, Completion of book, entitled, BLOOD: PRIDE NOT STIGMA (Yet to publish)

·         2016, The Radha Paudel Foundation, sensing menstrual practices and  restrictions in Parsa

·         2016, Panelist, Speaker in 14 different forums in USA

Urgency and Importance of MHM in Nepal at RHSC 17th global conference, PATH, WIN, University of Florida, Sanat Fe College etc. at Seattle, LA, Texas, Florida

·         2016, Columbia University&UNICEF, USA, 5th Annual Virtual Conference on Menstrual Health Management

·         2016, Thames International College, Kathmandu, Nepal, MHM and role of youths at Thames International College, Kathmandu

·         2016, Martin Chautari/Karnali 2020, Kathmandu, Speaker on Menstrual Restriction and Human right, peace building and development, March 2016

·         2016, Sarbodaya Nepal/Italian Foundation, Took the lead role to facilitate the training on Menstrual Rights, gender, inclusion and Anti Chhaupadi Campaign

·         2016, Her Turns, Guest Lecture on Menstrual Health and Challenges in Nepal, Oxford University, UK: Women and Children in Rural Nepal, March 2015

·        2015, Oxford University, Humanitarian Center, Cambridge University, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, UK, Urgency and importance of MHM in Nepal

·         2015, Essex University, UK, Premier Show of documentary and discussion on Menstrual Restriction in Nepal

·         2014, BEE Group/Italian Foundation Nepal: Gender Based Violence and women empowerment

·         2014, University of Florida, USA: Rural Women's Life in Nepal

·         2014, BEE Group/ Italian Foundation Nepal: Gender Based Violence and women empowerment

·         2014, PACE Nepal, Role of political leaders, media, community leaders and youths in peace building and human rights

·         2013, PACE Nepal, Role of political leaders, media, community leaders and youths in peace building and human rights

·         2013, Action Works Nepal, Conducted a study among adolescent girls in Jumla and Kalikot

·         2010, Action Works Nepal, the anti-chhaupadi campaign started again in Karnali

·         2009, took lead role to accomplish the death ritual of my mother along with Younger sister and brother

·         2006, CEDPA/USAID, the menstrual restriction is identified as key issues among adolescent girls through national girls' congress and intervene by engaging boys, schools, faith healers etc.

·         2001-2004, SaferMotherhood Project/DFID, started the anti-Chhaupadi Campaign in Jumla

·       1998, Tribhuvan University, Nursing Campus, Maharajgunj, the title of Thesis was 'Menstrual Hygiene among Newari Women in Gokarna, Kathmandu'

·         1991, Nursing Campus Pokhara, started to educate and abolish the menstrual restrictions at home and near by

·    1979, Mother and Neighborhood, know and learned about menstruation when I was 7 years, witnessed all procedures of Rishipanchami and abuses and restrictions among my sisters in shed. Determined to fight against it and broke the family law by ran away from house when I was at grade 10 or 14 years old.

Myths, Rumours, Misconceptions around Menstruation

I have been working around menstrual hygiene and rights since childhood. I have very long and interesting stories on how and why I engaged. I have identified various forms of restrictions,myths, misconceptions though like to share here. Hope you  will like this. 

Reflection on MHM practice in WASH Consortium, in Far and West Nepal

Institutional Mapping on #MHM in Nepal

#MHM practices in Nepal, a Technical review

Comments on Review of all Technical Papers[1]

1.    It is my great pleasure and privilege to work as Coordinator for Technical review committee. I would like to extend my sincere thanks and gratitude to Ministry of Water and Sanitation as well as WSSCC, National Chapter for trusting and of course my team members; Priya, Kalawati, Manima, Aratti for their generous support.

I am woman

सिक्का हो म
एकातिर शक्ती, सिरिस्टि, सर्बस्य,
अर्कोतिर, पाप, नरक, बस्तु .
कहिले सिक्का गूड्किन्छ,
ढुङ्गा रसाये झै पस्किन्छु हासो,
कहिले सिक्का पल्टिन्छ,
आकाश भासिन्छ, अस्तित्व नै हराउछ,
जब सिक्का फर्किन्छ फेरी,
सगर चुम्छु म, आकाश तर्सिन्छ जसै .
हरेक दृष्‍टि र ब्रिस्तिको परिभासामा,
कहिले सडकमा पुराइन्छु,कहिले बगरमा,
कहिले पैतालामुनी त कहिले पिप्कुन्ड
खीइएको छु, कुचिएको छु तर फेरिएको छैन,
करोड्पती होस् वा सुन्यपती,बिलाएको छैन
किन् भने,
म महिला हुँ .
म सिरिस्टि हुँ

Cross-Section of Menstrual Polices and Practices in Nepal, Ministry of Water Supply and Sanitation

This Presentation was prepared for National Consultative Workshop on MHM (Menstrual Health Management) in Nepal organized by Ministry of Water Supply and Sanitation, February 9-10, 2017 at Training Institute of Water Supply and Sanitation, Nagarkot. I was in Bangkok for N-Peace Award so I supposed to deliver by online but no signal appeared from Nepal as given time by them.Hope, Anupa Regmi presented this as back up plan 

Blood: Pride Not Stigma

Here, I am sharing the contents of my book entitled blood: Pride NOT stigma. 

Chapter One: Violation of Menstrual Code. 1

Chapter Two: No More Pain, Pride and Power. 16

Chapter Three:  Shaked, and shocked Again. 22

Chapter Four: Menstrual Restrictions in various places and communities. 29

. Chapter Five: Chhaupadi is practicing globally not only in west Nepal 35

Chapter Six: Socialization Process on Menstruation. 37

Chapter Seven: Misinterpreted and Mislead by many Actors. 43

Chapter Eight: Menstrual Restriction is learned Psychological Fear only. 46

Chapter Nine: Right Message and Right Approach Possible to Transform.. 53

Chapter Ten: Menstrual Restriction is applying for Men as well?. 65

Chapter Eleven: Menstrual Activism in Nepal and Beyond. 69

Chapter Twelve: Struggle in Menstrual Hygiene Products. 72

Chapter Thirteen: Menstrual Restriction is key barrier for PHRES (Peace, Human Right, Empowerment and Sustainable Development Goals). 76

Chapter Fourteen: Chhaupadi Free Campgain
Chapter Fifteen: Embrace the Menstrual Activism.. 82

#Policy Analysis: #Menstruation in #Chhaupadi guideline, #Constitution, #SDG

Abstract: The menstruation is biological phenomena and each woman experience in their lifetime. It is heavily ignored by international human rights declarations and also found same in the national level. MHM (Menstrual Health Management)/MR (Menstrual Rights) is confined under Chhaupadi that doesn't represent all forms of restrictions and locations where and what girls and women practicing. The Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), Nepalese Constitution 2015 and Chhaupadi guidelines are critical documents in current discussion for MHM/MR to understand the position as well as explore the role of each actors around it.

Key Words: Menstrual Rights, Menstrual Health Management, Chhaupadi, SDG, Constitution 2015

Song- Climate change

Rhododendron, national flower in Jan 20, 2017 at Gurashe, Dailekh 

माघिमा फुलेर लालाि गुराश,
                      मलाई लाज लाग्यो

हिउदैमा नागै देखेर पहाड,
                     हिमालकी छोरी को शान् भाग्यो .

रिताइ सुख्है फाट्हरुले
             पौरखी नेपाली हो र
                 भन्दै गिजायो
                     लौन मलाई गिजायो ।

The mount range from same date and location 

                   

Human

आमा भन्नु हुन्थ्यो,
रगतको डल्लो हो मान्छे ।
भरे मान्छे त मासु रहेछ ।
हेर्दा हेर्दै चट्टाने पहाड ।
अनी,
बलुवा बनेर पानी सँग पौददो रहेछ।
तेही रगतको प्रकिर्तीमा मिसिस्एर,
फेरी अस्ताउछ मान्छे

Varieties of Cowshed used for Menstrual Period and childbirth in Nepal !

WUNRN

http://www.wunrn.com

Action Works Nepal - http://www.actionworksnepal.com/ - Radha Paudel, Founder & President

From Radha Paudel in Nepal. “ I am translating and sharing stories on childbirth and periods in sheds which I have been fighting for a very long time. It is published in national online newspapers in Nepali. 

NEPAL – CHILDBIRTH IN SHEDS DIALOGUE

2016-12-05

Original link in Nepali: http://mahilakhabar.com/?p=20736

Report on Anti/Chhaupadi Campaign, Gender, Inclusion and Women Empowerment

FYI: I was invited by Sarbodaya Nepal, I do not take a single penny. They took care of my food, accommodation and transport when I was in Jumla.

Bites for Mahilakhabar.com on Chhaupadi

Here, I have upload the question received from Khima Basent who asked me my opinion via telephone. I was sick and asked to send the questions via email. 

I responded her questions, please scrolled down though it is in Nepali.

Message to Rapist

ईमेल ईन्टरनेटमा ब्लक गरेर,
बलत्कारी उम्किन सक्छ र ?
पानी मुनी होस् कि आकाशमा,
कानुनले चाहे कहाँ लूक्छ र ?
छाया हो अपराध,
जे जसरी सँग संगै पुग्छ ।
पैसाले छेक्न सक्ला,
पद र राजनीतिले लुकाउन सक्ला,
आकाश र पातलको बासले दुरी लेला
सधैं लुकाउन त ज्यानै फाले के होला र ?
आफुलाई ढाटेर संसार ढाट्न जती सजिलो छ,
गुमाएको विश्वाश दुरुस्तै कसरी बन्छ र ?
जती भाग्दै गयो, दुरी उती लामो,
जती भाग्दै गयो छाया उती छोटो,
जती कतु भये पनि सत्य्त कै जित हो ।

USA Trip 2016: Activities at Various places

This is my fourth trip to USA. I was invited by Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation for giving presentation on Menstrual Health Management in Nepal. Shanta and myself joined and contributed in five days program.

There were so many talks,discussion at LA, Texsas, Florida. Few Photos were shared here (Please scrolled down).

Meeting with Ashok and Madhu Patel, at Texsas 

Meeting at Texas with Tennis Player

At UF Dr Willium, Dr Kellerman and Anila 

Speech at UF

Nepali Students at UF after Talk 

Brochure at Sanatafe College

Presentation at RHSC on #MHM as panelist at Seatle, October 13, 2016

One Ruppe Aunt

बिहे भएको झन्डै ५ बर्ष पछी छोरी ज्वाँई सँग भेट भो ?

कसरी के कुरा गरु, ज्वाँईलाई के कुरा मन पर्छ सोच्दै गर्दा एसरी कुरा सुरु गरे - सरुपाले मेरो बारेमा के के भनी त ज्वाँई नारन ?

ज्वाँईहरु लाई म नारन थपिदिएको छु, अरुलाई के लाग्छ कुन्नी मलाई चाँही रमाइलो लाग्छ । आखिर जिउने त आफ्नै लागि न हो ।

ज्वाँई फरासिला लाग्यो मलाई - एकै चोटि भन्नु भो, सबै कुरा था छ नि ।

उहाले हासो नै खप्न सक्नु भएन - तपाईंको नाम -एक रुपैयाँ अन्टी ।

Letter to Prime Minister Puspa Kamal Dahal, Prachanda regarding his speech on Karnali

सम्माननिय प्रधानमन्त्री पुष्पकमल  पुष्पकमल दाहाल प्रचन्ड ज्यु,

नमस्कार !

सन्जोगले जुराएको हो तपाईं दोस्रो पटक प्रधानमंत्री भएपछी गरेको पहिलो सम्बोधन टेलि भिजनमा हेर्नलाई । तपाईंको पाटिको तर्फबाट तपाईं तेस्रो प्रधानमन्त्री हो। यो वा त्यो बहानमा तपाईंको पाटी सरकारमा जानबाट  अछुतो छैन अर्थात तपाईं र तपाईंको पाटी सरकारमा के होला भनेर तर्सिरहनु पर्ने वा सबै नौलो र अचम्म लाग्ने अवस्थामा हुनु हुन्न।