Domestic Violence against Women A Case Study of Thumpokhara VDC (Ward Number 6) in Syangja District

Abstract

This research work aimed to unveil the situation of domestic violence against women in Thumpokhara VDC of Syangja district. From introducing the topic through reviewing the existing literature on the subject, the thesis goes on to the analysis and interpretation of the data collected in the concerned site. Finally summary and conclusions of the thesis have been drawn. Various aspects and variables of the state of women in violence have been discussed. Level of knowledge and awareness of women about violence, their willingness and readiness to report and knowledge of institutional structures for reporting were carefully considered. The faith and confidence on legal provisions against VAW and situation of remedy against it were an important part. The research is built up with 110 structured interviews of women and adolescent girls. Besides, 16 key informants' interviews and 3 FGDs were made. Of the three FGDs, 2 were held among women and adolescent girls and 1 among men. Well-devised structured questionnaire and checklist were used in order to ensure that all the essential aspects are covered in the process. Of the women interviewed, 27.3 percentages of them were ever the victims of domestic violence. Highest (40%) proportion of women interviewed is at the age ranging from 20 to29 years. About 46.7 percentages of the women and girls included in the survey are from Dumre household followed by Tiwari 23.3 and Pandey 16.7 percentage. About 13.3 percentages of the interviewed women make the Dalit and other caste groups.

The study shows that 63.7 percentage of the interviewed women are currently married and 22.7 percentage unmarried adolescent girls; while 45.5 percentage live in nuclear families, 54.5 percentage of them live in joint families. The literacy status is very poor: about 36.4 percentages are literate and 63.6 percentages are illiterate. Of the interviewed women 16.7% of victim women are engaged in agricultural activities especially as agricultural laborer and about 66.7% are engaged in their own agricultural activities. Nearly 26.7 percentage victim women have given birth to son, 40 percentages have only daughter and 33.3 percentages are childless. It was found that the status of awareness on VAW and women's legal right is very poor in the VDC. Only about 68.2 percentages of the women knew or ever heard of incidence of violence. While the largest number of women agreed that sexual abuse is VAW, the least percentage i.e. 26.4 agreed that accusing someone of a witch is a VAW. Likewise, among the key informants 68.8 percentage of them have expressed that situation of VAW is bad in the VDC. While it comes to the reasons behind VAW, most of the women have opined that it is lack of education and ignorance that is supporting the persistence of VAW; and second in the reason is the existing situation of male domination in the society. Nevertheless, when it comes to reporting of the violence caused to them, majority of them would want to keep it secret which has a number of reasons behind it. The largest numbers (38.9%) consider there is no benefit in reporting the violence followed by 28.8% who believe family prestige is more important. A considerable number of women also believe reporting further increases the problem in the family.

The women who agree that there is a differential treatment in economic rights have outnumbered those who have said there exist differential treatment in educational, legal and reproductive rights. Of course, it is the right and control of the economic resources that determines the power of women in the society. It seems that when they do not feel secure enough, they do not dare to report violence, oppose it and seek remedy against it. Therefore, one of the important findings was women need to be empowered by their access and control of the resources of the family, by educating them, and keeping law and order by punishing the perpetrators of violence. Once confidence is built of the women, they voluntarily are likely to seek remedy of violence they suffer. Women in Thumpokhara VDC were largely unaware of awareness programs in broadcast and print media. Knowledge of legal provisions made for ending VAW is very weak. More critically, they do not have faith that a victim will be protected, her family life will not be ruined and the perpetrator will be given the maximum punishment allowed by the law. Training for awareness raising, enhancing knowledge on legal provisions, awareness raising on human rights and women's rights, and empowerment are vital if VAW is to be controlled. These steps need to be backed up by employment opportunities for economic strength accompanied by strong political commitment to bring programs and implement them. Capacitating community level mechanisms can be another sustainable way to control VAW.