On the eve of March 8, when the world was preparing to celebrate International Women’s Day, Nepal failed yet another young girl. That day, 16-year-old Inisha BK from Surkhet was found unconscious in Birendranagar’s Janajagaran Community Forest. The extent of injuries the minor had sustained during a sexual assault caused haemorrhage, and she took her last breath shortly after being taken to the provincial hospital. Following an initial investigation, the police have arrested four young boys in connection with Inisa’s murder, marking yet another case where juveniles are involved in sexual crimes.

The incident sent shockwaves. People from all walks of life gathered in the federal capital, Kathmandu, and Inisha’s hometown, Birendranagar, and even in the remote Kalikot, demanding justice for the victim and her family. Many took to social media to amplify public pressure for a transparent investigation. This odious crime also reminded Nepalis of many unresolved rape-and-murder cases in the past, including but not limited to Kanchanpur’s Nirmala Panta in 2018 and Kalikot’s Niru BK in 2021.

Despite all the talk of gender equality and ending all forms of discrimination against women and young girls, their lot remains largely unchanged. Data from Nepal Police reveals an alarming picture: In the fiscal year 2023-24 alone, a total of 2,507 cases were reported, which is about seven to eight cases per day. Of these, most victims are aged 11-14. But these numbers are only a fraction of the actual incidents. According to the same report, even as provinces with larger populations and urban centres such as Bagmati tend to report more cases, Karnali province falls far behind, as many cases go unreported due to social stigma and pressure to ‘settle’ cases outside the legal system.

Crimes as inhuman as rape warrant stringent laws. The 2015 Constitution of Nepal puts the right against sexual violence as a fundamental right, and the perpetrators are punished under the Penal Code. But it is one thing to have stringent laws, another to follow through on them. In many cases, culprits are given a clean chit by citing a lack of evidence. All this boils down to the fact that we as a society have failed to instil the concepts of ‘consent and respect’ in adults and, most crucially, in young boys. In a society where girls are taught to remain subservient, while boys are lauded for being dominant—including in relationships—young boys feel emboldened to commit sexual crimes, and girls are forced to do what pleases their partner.

Rape and sexual violence deserve no leniency, and only harsh punishments can discourage culprits. As vital is following victim-friendly approaches when filing FIRs and enforcing the law. Often, the road to justice is long, and survivors are questioned and blamed, making them abandon the process altogether. These hurdles render justice elusive. They also entail amending laws that are inadequate to ensure justice for survivors, such as the removal of any time limits to report rape to start with. Sexual education through textbooks must be prioritised to inform young minds.