More than 16,000 cases of domestic violence were reported in Nepal between 2023 and 2024, according to a human rights report by Amnesty International.
The report mentions that harmful practices like child marriage, child labor, and chhaupadi (forcing girls and women to stay in sheds during menstruation) are legally banned in Nepal. However, violence and abuse against women and girls continue.
One example included in the report is from June 17 in Achham, where a 16-year-old girl was raped while staying in a shed during her period. Another case from July mentioned a police inspector being jailed for repeatedly raping a 10-year-old girl who worked in his home for over three years.
“Between July 2023 and June 2024, police recorded over 16,000 domestic violence cases,” the report says. “Many more cases likely went unreported due to social stigma and systemic barriers.”
Amnesty International also highlighted that caste-based discrimination, including untouchability, continues to be a problem in Nepal.
