As the global 16 Days of Activism against Gender-based Violence unfolds, government and civil society groups across Sudurpaschim—especially in Dhangadhi—have been holding events to highlight the persistent challenges faced by women. At one such programme on Friday, the Kailali chapter of Women Rehabilitation Centre (WOREC) released Anwesi, an analytical study on the state of violence against women in Nepal.

The study, based on last year’s data compiled by WOREC from all seven provinces, presents a detailed picture of the scale and nature of violence. Representatives from security agencies, government institutions, non-government organisations and local governments attended the launch, which also focused on gaps in enforcement and barriers to justice.

Anwesi noted that 1,279 incidents of violence against women were registered nationwide in fiscal year 2024-25. Karnali province recorded the highest number of cases at 419, followed by Koshi (341), Madhesh (260), Lumbini (91), Bagmati (88), Sudurpaschim (76) and Gandaki (2).

Of these, 72 percent were domestic violence cases, 17 percent sexual violence, and 6.5 percent social violence. The data show that 81.8 percent of perpetrators were male, while 18.2 percent were female.

One of the report’s key findings is the strong correlation between early marriage and heightened vulnerability. A total of 85.2 percent of survivors or affected women had been married before the age of 20, reinforcing long-held concerns about the role of child or early marriage in fuelling violence.

Bimal Prasad Joshi, a member of the Kailali District Coordination Committee, said that the absence of properly functioning women and children units at the local level is contributing to rising incidents. He argued that campaigns carried out solely by non-governmental organisations are insufficient and that the government must take greater ownership.

The study also highlights provincial variations in sexual violence. Koshi province accounted for 36.2 percent of all rape cases, followed by Bagmati with 25.5 percent and Karnali with 14.8 percent. The data further show that 91 percent of perpetrators in rape cases were known to the victims, underscoring a higher risk from familiar individuals.

Sabitri BK, WOREC’s project coordinator, noted that women face violence even during crises or emergencies, describing a ‘double burden’ in which women must manage household responsibilities while enduring abuse within the family. She added that low participation in decision-making and high levels of economic dependency trap many women in cycles of violence.

Rights activists at the event stressed that while Nepal’s legal provisions on women’s rights are relatively strong, implementation remains extremely weak. They also criticised the absence of an official nationwide mechanism for documenting violence against women, calling for a unified national database.

The Anwesi study reports that 72 percent of women experience domestic violence, 40.9 percent face a heightened risk of rape before age 18, and 16.1 percent are subjected to violence following accusations of witchcraft. Additionally, 98 percent of rape survivors face social stigma or repercussions. These figures are drawn from WOREC’s programmes in 28 districts.

Speaking at the event, Kailali assistant chief district officer Kiran Joshi said entrenched patriarchal attitudes remain a primary driver of violence. She added that women sometimes internalise these attitudes and perpetuate harmful behaviours themselves. Joshi also warned of emerging forms of digital violence enabled by new technologies and called for women-friendly digital systems. She noted that violence against men often remains unreported as patriarchal norms discourage men from seeking legal remedies.

The findings and discussions at the launch highlight that Nepal still faces deep structural challenges in addressing gender-based violence. Early marriage, weak enforcement, entrenched social beliefs and limited institutional capacity continue to put women at high risk, while survivors struggle to access justice and support.