Internally displaced women are in risky
jobs: Report
Most of the Internally Displaced People (IDP) caused by present
conflict of the country, especially women, are in the risky jobs
like cabin and dance restaurants, garment industries and massage
parlors in Kathmandu.
This was found in the research “An Intensive Study of the
IDPs 2005”carried out by Meet Nepal which is supported by
Lutheran World Federation Nepal.
The chief of IDPs Research Project, Gobinda Dhungana
presented the research paper in the program “Humanitarian
Assistance to the Internally Displaced Persons” organized
by Meet Nepal, one of the social organizations working in the
field of displaced women caused by present conflict in the nation
at Kathmandu today.
The main findings and conclusions of the research is that most
of the women have been displaced by the decade old Maoist insurgency;
63.4 percent of the total respondents were conflict vicitms. Among
them, 27.2 percent were found unemployed in Kathmndu. Within the
employed, 23.6 percent are in cabin restaurants, 5 percent are
working in the dance restaurants and 11.4 percent women work in
massage parlors.
It was found that young women, particularily from ethnic groups,
having no knowledge of sexual disease and no high education, weree
working in these risky places.
The research said that it was clearly proved by the western nations
that the development of a country is possible only when there
is equal participation of men and women in all sectors. This was
not the case in Nepal, so to enhance women's status and decrease
their exploitation, the report has recommended educational opportunity,
poverty alleviation, peace and security and vocational training
and skill development training programs for women .
The chief guest of the program, Menuka Thapa, president of Raksha
Nepal requested the civil society not to neglect those women who
are working in risky places for survival. “They need the
help and skill not mercy to live,” said Thapa.
Addressing the program, president of Meet Nepal, Shashi Sharma
said it is not the desire of women to work in those types of places,
but that they had no choice. They should not be neglected, rather
be given support and help to be moved to other suitable places.
nepalnews.com sg Sep 29 05
