Kathmandu, October 14
The Ministry of Women, Children and Senior Citizens and relevant provincial and local authorities on Wednesday launched a two-year project to tackle gender-based violence (GBV) in Province 2 and Karnali.
Delegation of the European Union to Nepal and the United Nations Population Fund are supporting the government to implement the project.
“The project will ensure the provision of critical services for GBV survivors in seven municipalities,” the EU Delegation in Nepal says, “The project will support One-Stop Crisis Management Centres (OCMC), psychosocial services, and access to shelters, amongst other immediate response services.”
Working hand in hand with public and non-state actors, the project will strengthen and accelerate efforts to prevent and respond to GBV by addressing the emerging challenges and pre-existing gaps worsened by the COVID-19 pandemic, according to the EU statement.
The project is launched at a time when national statistics paint a grim picture of GBV in the country, with one in five women aged 15 to 49 experiencing physical violence since the age of 15, and at least one in four married women subjected to physical, sexual, or emotional violence by their partner.
The project is financed by the EU with 700,000 Euros.