Nepal Disabled Women Association (NDWA) has started a helpline service with the aim of reducing gender based violence and providing access to justice for women and girls with disabilities affected by GBV. National Human Rights Commission’s Chairperson Top Bahadur Magar announced the helpline number. NDWA has started a toll-free helpline number 9801571225 with the aim of providing access to justice for women and girls with disabilities affected by gender based violence.

Speaking at the program organized for launch the helpline, Magar, the chairperson of the commission, said that starting the helpline is admirable and he is committed to work together with the case register in helpline. He said that he will cooperate with the NDWA to proceed with the legal process after looking at the incidents and complaints received on the helpline. He said that despite the study and investigation of human rights violations and recommendations to the government, the process of prosecution is not progressing, he said that the recommendation implementation mechanism should be strengthened.

The Secretary of the National Human Rights Commission, Murari Prasad Kharel, expressed the idea that the helpline would help in monitoring the incidents of women with disabilities. He suggested to discuss with the concerned stakeholders from time to time about the incidents of complaints received on the helpline. He said that the Commission is always ready for cooperation in monitoring and recommending cases of human rights violations.

The representatives of various organizations CSOs present at the event said that they are ready to work together and collaborate with the Nepal Disabled Women Association. Tika Dahal, chairperson of NDWA informed that although they have worked for a long time for violence against women and access to justice for women with disabilities, since there is no systematic documentation, a helpline has been started to systematic documentation.  She added that the helpline will enhance campaign for the evidence based advocacy in days to come. She also said that the work will be done in partnership with the National Human Rights Commission and other CSOs as well. On this occasion, an informative booklet on GBV published by the NDWA was also released.