Women in Nepal under the age of 40 will soon need the permission of their families and a local government ward office to travel abroad alone under new proposals that have been denounced by human rights groups.
The new regulations have been billed as a protection against trafficking, but human rights groups have said they will only put women at further risk, while also infringing upon their human rights.
“For decades, Nepal’s government has responded to incidents of abuse and exploitation of Nepali women working abroad by imposing one misguided rule after another, restricting their right to travel and earn a living,” Human Rights Watch (HRW) said in a statement.
“The latest proposals will make a bad situation even worse for these women.”
The organisation said the new proposals, along with rules already in place in Nepal, discriminate against women based on gender and age and deny women autonomy.
“They also force women into riskier, undocumented employment, increasing the danger of trafficking and abuse,” Human Rights Watch warned.
While claiming the regulations could prove harmful, HRW add that “they’re also an insult to women’s dignity”.
Still, government officials have maintained that the change would help protect women from potential abuses when they seek employment abroad.
Under the rule, the family of the girl or woman seeking to travel, as well as their local ward office, will have to issue a recommendation.
The girl or woman will also have to buy insurance, in addition to carrying currency equivalent to £721 as travel expenses.
Despite protests over the rule and warnings from human rights groups, the proposals have been sent to the home ministry for approval and could come into effect soon.
Speaking to The Kathmandu Post, Mohna Ansari, a former national human rights commissioner, said the rule was “absolutely wrong”.
“Such a move contradicts the constitutional provisions that guarantee equal and fair treatment of all citizens and calls for ending gender-based discrimination,” Ms Ansari said.
