KATHMANDU, August 7: Cases related to rape and domestic violence have been found to be on the rise across the country. According to the statistics released by Nepal Police, as many as 2,534 cases were filed against rape in 2020, while 2,144 complaints were registered in 2019. So far, 390 cases of rape has been registered in the current fiscal year.
Similarly, 2,230 rape cases were registered in 2018 and 1,480 cases were filed in 2017. “The statistics clearly shows the rise of violence against women in Nepal,” Nepal Police Spokesperson and Senior Superindent of Police, Basanta Kunwar informed Republica. “The cases of murder, rape, forced labour and suicide have increased by 18 to 25 percent in the past four years,” he added.
Gender violence on the rise
According to the police report, rape cases increased by 18.19 percent in the last four years. It has been found that relatives of the victims are the culprits in most cases. Also, as many as seven rape related cases are registered everyday. As many as 11.18 percent of rape victims are found to be below the age of 10, 53.24 percent of them between the age of 11 to 18 and 1.48 percent are found to be above the age of 60.
Likewise, cases related to suicide increased by 14.4 percent last year. According to reports, as many as 19 people die of suicide everyday. Among the 7,117 case of suicide, most chose to kill themselves by hanging and by poisoning.
Crimes related to women and children have increased as well. Child marriage has increased by 31.25 percent, domestic violence by 21.24 percent, child abuse by 20.25 percent and polygamy by 16 percent.
As many as 14,232 cases of domestic violence were registered last year, while 11,738 cases were registered in 2019.
