Pokhara, 7 December| A women’s empowerment training program, organized jointly by the Community Service Centre Pokhara-9 Prithvichowk and the Rotary Club of Pokhara Midtown, was successfully held as part of the 16-day campaign against gender-based violence. Bimala Bhandari, Press Registrar of Gandaki Province, highlighted that the nature of gender-based violence has shifted with the advancement of communication technology. She pointed out that while violence historically manifested physically, mentally, politically, and economically, contemporary forms of abuse have stealthily entered through social media message boxes, with character assassination through publicizing photos and images becoming prevalent. Bhandari suggested that appropriate legal remedies must be sought against perpetrators who use technology to intimidate victims.
Deputy Superintendent of Police Namraj Bhattarai, Chief of the Ward Police Office Baitam, affirmed that Nepal Police is operating under a zero-tolerance policy for gender-based violence reduction. He indicated that violence against women also occurs unknowingly or knowingly within households. Bhattarai added that the Nepal Police addresses incidents through Women, Children, and Senior Citizens Service Centers, the Cyber Bureau, and the Human Trafficking Bureau. The session was facilitated by Upendra Paudel, President of the Rotary Club, and Dr. Hari Paudel, a pain specialist. Kamal Bahadur Shrestha, former President of the Community Service Centre Prithvichowk, noted that the center works in collaboration with the Nepal Police to curb misconduct and organizes community-level awareness programs for gender-based violence reduction.
