Women Have Been The Victims

International Woman's Day is on the 8th of March. It is a time when everyone on earth has a chance to listen together to the voice of women. Conflict, war and terrorism caused women deaths since hundred years. There have been many isolated acts against women since then, but state reactions to these events were low and ineffectual.

The number of innocent women and children who have been the innocent victims. Societal problems affecting women and making them vulnerable were a result of inequalities. It was clear that women and children living in less developed areas, are the most vulnerable. Women have limited access to occupations and resources, they are the ones hardest hit. A lack of commitment and implementation of policy are obstacles to solving the crisis.

On the other hand, throughout the history, women have actively participated in the active non-violence movement. Throughout the world women have continued to organize and implement peace initiatives. Women have the power and potential to defuse war. Cock, Jacklyn Sociology Professor at Wits University, Johannesburg, said "When we stand for peace as women, it is not to make a case for our special victim hood, but to represent a different vision of strength. We wanted our presence to be visible. We wanted it to be clearly understood that what we were doing was our political choice, a radical criticism of the patriarchal, and a non-violent act of resistance to policies that destroy cities, kill people, and annihilate human relations".

Even in May 1999, the Hague Appeal for Peace approved the Hague Agenda for Peace and Justice for the 21st Century, which stressed the need to include women from all areas of society at all stages in any peace negotiating process. The third UN Conference on Women in Nairobi (1985) reaffirmed the commitment to disarmament issues by highlighting the key role women can play, including in nuclear disarmament, and calling for greater support of women's efforts.

In 1995 at the Fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing, governments agreed to Strategic Objective to Reduce excessive military expenditures and control the availability of armaments.

Lungile Magagula, head of justice, peace and reconciliation of the Swaziland Council, further said women were the most likely to be affected by violence and assault in times of conflict. Even though they were excluded during the negotiation of peace agreements, they needed to be "put in a position where they see that justice actually is done. To prevent the violence before it breaks out.

UN Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women Peace and Security which was passed unanimously on 31 October 2000, recognizes that women are disproportionately victimized in wars and calls upon all parties to armed conflict to take special measures to respect women's rights. And it calls for better representation of women throughout the UN system itself.

Representatives of the Women's International League for Peace and Freedom, stated that "The origin of women's peace and disarmament movements can be traced to various roots. It is useful to examine the elements of the development of the women's peace and disarmament movements calling to end war and begin complete disarmament, as a unique phenomenon.

During the Cold War, women lobbied against the stockpiling and possible use of nuclear weapons. After a 1959 Conference on "the responsibility of women in the atomic age", the newly-formed European Movement of Women against Nuclear Armament, and other women's groups, embarked on massive educational and petition campaigns. report said.

Women affected by conflicts, without shelter and former women soldiers who need rehabilitation globally.

Nepalese women and Peace

Women comprise at least 50 percent and more than 95 percent of Nepali women are effected by Maoists war. Since 1996, the Maoist war has cost over 14,500 lives and has brought the country's fragile economy into deep trouble. There are no precise estimates, official or non-official, of the number of women widowed or children orphaned. Since conflict started, rape and kidnapping have increased. Prostitution increased. Kidnap and torture still take place.

Forceful recruitment of young women in the Maoist force is another serious issue in Nepal. Many young women have been displaced from their homes and forced to stay away because of this threat to them in their villages. Many displaced women and their families are still without shelter. Nepali conflict has also contributed to a rise in prostitution and trafficking, which threatens women's health.

On the other hand, In Nepal, the issue of peace and women was addressed about a decade ago. A fundamental problem is the lack of a precise and coherent work.

Nepalese women believe, if they are given an opportunity to make their voice heard, if they can bring their own perspective to the table, the chances for lasting peace will improve immeasurably. Nepalese women must have a right to be involved in all development processes. Nepalese women are to play an equal part in security and maintaining peace.

I think the key to the reform of peace and women participation is the education of the women.

More women should be involved in peacemaking and peacekeeping mission globally.

Kamala Swarup
Reffered Page :www.peacejournalism.com

International Women's day and Media

International Women's Day (March 8 ) is the ideal time to challenge the mindset of media on issues related to women’s rights thinking. We cannot let another International Women's Day come and go without understanding that women's freedom, economic and social inequality kills young girls and women.

International Women’s Day marks an urgent occasion to mobilize national governments and international gencies to do what is smart and what is right for women media personnel.

Women journalists face enormous problems of discrimination and danger that undermines their role in edia, in spite of increasing numbers of women in the newsroom", says International Federation of Journalists ( IFJ)—an umbrella organisation of professional media groups in over 110 countries of the world-- in a statement issued to mark the International Women's Day. "This must change. First, women must have better access to leadershippositions, both at their workplace and within their unions. Second,there must be a systematic change in the culture of employment andrewards in media to eliminate all forms of discrimination. It is timefor equality in pay, jobs and opportunities" the IFJ said.

Around the world the struggle for equality in media is a constantbattle for recognition of women's rights. The issue is always therewhether it is in discrimination over jobs and pay or in the diet ofsexist and titillating journalism that still contributes to thedifficulties faced by women in all sections of society.
A detailed survey presented to the International Federation of Journalists’ 24th World Congress in Seoul, South Korea, recently revealed that despite the fact women comprise at least 38 per cent of theworkforce in journalism, less than one per cent of media executiveposts are held by women. The list of obstacles is long and it is thesame, whether drawn up by women journalists in Asia, the Pacific,Latin America, Africa or Europe.

It is true, the International Women’s day is quite significant in thesense that it calls for all the concerned agencies and individuals tocontribute to the empowerment of women.

Another common feature of media's presentation of women is their objectification of women as entertainment fixtures or sex symbols. The women movie artists are attacked with vulgar language and crudecomments about their personal traits or physical appearance in thegossip columns.

In Nepal, the mainstream media has paid little interest on women'sissues. The media does not seem to be giving adequate attention to important issues that concern women.

One of the main reasons for limited involvement of women in the pressand in the field of writing may be their isolation from exposure and exchange of ideas with the outside world. The history of print media in Nepal is no longer than 100 years. The first newspaper of the country , Gorkhapatra, a Nepali-language daily was published from a mono type press over 98 years ago. Radio Nepal as the first electronic media started from 1950. Since then Nepali media has experienced a slow metamorphosis to come to the current state. Today, more than hundred of newspaper andmagazines and a total of seven electronic media are in operation. Rastriya Samachar Samiti (RSS) is one sole news agency.
Women's participation in mass media begun as early as 45 years ago,thenceforth different women personalities are persevering toraise women’s cause in the media almost on a regular basis.

Now the question is why so many programmes transmitted through the electronic media have also contributed towards creating negative image of the women?
Hundreds of women in Nepal have been murdered because of dowry. Several women have been accused on charge of practising witchcraft. But such events are limited only to a piece of news, why?. Why are women journalists still identifying stereotyped attitudes,unfair treatment, harassment and job insecurity assome of the reasons that prompt them to give up the profession?

The media should give importance to such subject matters, which inform the women of the socio-political context of the country with particular focus on women's issues, their contemporary problems and necessities. The media should inspire all to make opinions and decisions on development, human rights, women's rights and women'splace in a society.

Media's role is not just to report to society but to challenge the society on things, which have been wrong as well as to set agenda. The lack of women's voices and limited portrayal of their roles in the media may soon change if a new plan to correct those anomalies is implemented.

There is a code of conduct for the journalists that they should not publish anything, which degrade the weaker sections of the society.

This code of conduct is forgotten very often while writing on women'sissues. The media should improve its own restrictions and standards on items, which humiliate and discriminate against women.

Reffered Page
Kamala Sarup
Peacejournalism.com

Representing Nepali Literature on the Internet

Bibhor Baral

If you searched for any Nepali literary work on the Net a year back, you wouldn't find a single trace of it.

Several renowned as well as budding litterateurs embellish Nepali literature. But none had any representation on the Internet.

Today, fortunately, we have one site completely dedicated to Nepali literature, thanks to Bibhor Baral and his e-magazine, ketaketi.org, the first of its kind in Nepal.

At this time when Nepali literature is facing declining popularity amongst the youngsters, a small effort from his side has provided immense help to the promotion of Nepali literature.

Two years back, Bibhor was completely unfamiliar with computers. Internet was something that he had only heard of. Nevertheless, he was always inquisitive regarding computers and the Internet.

He went to the theaters to watch movies. People said all the special effects were the magic of computer. Everyone talked about Information Technology; IT was a much-hyped word. However, Bibhor did not have a clue about what it actually was.

It was only during his college years that he got an opportunity to delve into the world of computers. He first used it in his college, the College of Applied Business (CAB), and it intrigued him so much that he was completely engrossed in computers. He spent most of his time in front of his computer screen, unfolding all the mysteries of the computer.

Besides computers, literature was the other field that grabbed Baral’s interest. He was very interested in the works of Bhupi Sherchan, Laxmi Prasad Devkota, Leo Tolstoy and Rabindranath Tagore. Once when assigned to create a web page while at college, Baral found a great opportunity to bring together his fields of interest. He decided to create a website of Nepali magazine in which he included a brief history of Nepali literature and uploaded the Nepali magazine Rachana, which was first published more than 40 years ago. He was the first person to upload Nepali e-magazine. His effort received great appreciation.

Baral then participated in a poetry competition organized by pardesi.com, where all the Nepali citizens around the world were allowed to participate. Baral bagged the first prize.

Once when Baral was visiting a cyber café in the city, he saw small kids freely visiting porn sites. The people at the café did nothing to stop this. Bibhor was concerned about the kids who were rotting their time and brains visiting such sites. He realized that it could be because there were not any sites in the country designed for young ones. It was quite natural for young minds to be diverted to such sites.

Then the desire for Baral to do something for the kids, his interest in literature and his love for the Information Technology led him to create the first children’s e-magazine in Nepal. He named it ketaketi.org.

It was with the assistance of litterateur Dhiraj Baral and their joint investment that Bibhor officially launched this web site on November 20, 2003. Rochak Ghimire coined the perfectly relevant name for the web site. It received a welcoming response on the inauguration day itself. This site has been visited 900,000 times in the nine months and is dedicated completely to school students and up to the +2 level.

The magazine contains current events, photo gallery, quiz, e-pals site, a site for novels and stories and many more. Bibhor is also going to organize a countrywide poetry and story writing competition soon.

The advisors of the magazine include famous litterateurs such as Ramesh Bikal, Dr Ram Dayal Rakesh, Madhav Ghimire and K.P. Parajuli.

Baral himself updates the magazine every month, despite being pressed by his studies and financial difficulties. Bibhor said, ‘This site takes a lot of effort. I have to even give up my study hours for this task,’ and added, ‘My parents have a hard time paying out the telephone bills.’

Bibhor is completely dedicated to this site. He intends to implement a cyber law in Nepal. ‘As there are no such laws in the country, anyone can copy the articles and publish it anywhere,’ laments Baral and intends to maintain the sovereignty of the writers.

Baral has further plans of bringing out the magazines in CD form for the kids devoid of the Internet facilities and wishes to publish a compilation of the best stories and poems. He wishes to gain and spread more knowledge about e-journalism and wants them to have an identity as well. In Nepal, e-journalists are not recognized so far.

With his perseverance and determination, Baral is sure to carve his name out as a promoter of Nepali literature for Nepalis, especially the budding ones.