Feb 10, 2021
NepaliTravellers strongly condemns recent introduction of a government rule requiring women under 40 years of age to produce ward authorization and family consent for any travel abroad. This proposed rule is a legal violation of individual constitutional rights and is a blatant discrimination towards women that unfortunately reflects the deep-rooted misogyny prevalent in Nepali society.
Band-aid solutions, like the proposed rule, demonstrate inability of the Nepali authorities in understanding how organized crimes - including human trafficking - prey upon vulnerable individuals. Requiring approval from husbands or families (read as male relatives) - and authorization from ward officials - is condescending to women and disregards both their capacity and ability to make decisions regarding safety and travel.
Image produced from Setopati article: https://tinyurl.com/18y2em1a