Untitled - Care Nepal

Questions by police were asked more to
women but most arrested were men. If a
man of a family was truly engaged in armed
groups, the women of that house had more
unrest. She was frequently interrogated by
police. They forced the women to call their
husbands back from the armed groups. Even
when innocent people were interrogated
by police during the time of conflict, the
neighbors did not come forward to provide
support with the fear of being accused of
involvement with the rebel group. Fear of
being questioned and tortured by the army
personnel is so severe that often neighbors
do not come forward to support people.
The army mostly went into homes of
common people to interrogate. The houses
that were not visited by army were again
strongly interrogated by armed groups,
creating much more stress.
Optimistically, women have gained
confidence to move freely after the peace
process began. People of armed groups and
security forces now seem to be friends hence
no fear of being interrogated by them.
While men are away, women alone have to
find ways to bring income to the house. The
women did the work that they did not do
earlier, such as breaking stones, making and
selling alcohol in the market. Single women
whose husbands have died in the conflict
experience severe pain. A woman with a
husband can at least speak with men but
when a single woman speaks with men in
the community, she is criticized too much.
People view her as loose women. Social
stigma is harsh on her.
A family had given loan to communities,
but when the husband died no one returned
the loan back to the family. Those who took
loan don’t think that it is important to return
the loan as they do not fear of any action
taken against them by women. What can a
woman do? Who will stand by her? No one
listens to women’s voice.
The conflict between madhes and hill is new
in the districts. In South, there is madhes and
when hill people are there; conflict arises.
Madhesis do not want to see hills people.
Rumor of kidnapping children etc was high
in Sarlahi and Mahottari during the time of
data collection. This has created fear among
parents of young children.
ECONOMICAL ISSUES
TO WOMEN
Most families do not trust women with
economic responsibilities. They do not
believe her. They feel that if money is given
to the women, she will take the money and
go away with other men. The migrated men
fears send to send the money to his wife as
he thinks she might misuse the money or
run away with someone; or give the money
to her parents. There is an issue of trust.
Men do not trust their wives with money
fearing that it would be misused. Women in
this case are in worse situation. With
husbands away women not only bear the
burden of the household work but also are
deprived of money etc. The women’s
economic status does not necessarily
improve if her husband is away.
For instance, many men in their community
had migrated for work. They have sent
Psychosocial Issues of
Women affected by conflict
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