A week-long self defence camp for teenage girls—organised with the initiation of the National Gojuriyo Karate-Do Association—kicked off in Dhangadhi, Kailali district, on Saturday. More than a thousand girls participated in the training.

General Secretary of the National Gojuriyo Karate-Do Association Prakash Chand said girls are concerned for their safety and well-being after the rape of Nirmala Pant came into light. 

“We have included a maximum number of teenage girls in the training so they can defend for themselves,” said Chand. As many as 100 excellent performers from the camp would be made trainers, he added.

Organisers said the training not only teaches girls on ways to defend themselves against sexual predators, but also aware them on the legal recourse they could take if someone harasses or assaults them.

“The training will empower school girls through awareness on sexual assault and self-defence training,” said Binu Chaudhary of WOREC Nepal. This type of camp builds the girls’ confidence to fight back in case of sexual harassment and give them the courage to voice out any form of harrassment, she said.

Nita Pandey, 15, a school girl taking part in the campaign said she looks forward to completing this one-week training.

“I am going to train to be confident in defending myself when I need to,” Pandey said.

Chief Minister of province 7 Trilochan Bhatta inaugurated the free-camp in Dhangadhi.

Demand for ‘fight back’ in Dolakha

Schools in Dolakha have been demanding the police organise a 15-day ‘fight back campaign’—a programme that teaches girls to defend themselves against sexual predators—in their schools of late.

The programme started in 20 schools of Charikot, Jiri and Singati of Dolakha district a month ago. DSP Basudev Pathak said they are going to extend the duration of the campaign. “Our team is going to take this programme to remote areas as well,” said DSP Pathak. The campaign was launched to create awareness among school-going girls on sexual harassment and gender violence.