From 5th to 8th of November the 4th World Conference of Women’s Shelters is taking place in Taiwan. It is the biggest global conference to network and share ideas on protection services and prevention of violence against women. It is organized by the Global Network of Women’s Shelters and the Taiwanese health ministry. About 1000 members from 120 different nations and governmental and non-governmental organizations are taking part. Renu Sharma, president of the Women’s Foundation Nepal, is participating as a Nepalese representative.
Violence against women and girls around the world has to stop and protecting victims is an ongoing issue which the shelter networks are working on. Implementing working structures can be difficult in some countries and the shelter network is therefore raising awareness about the necessity of safe shelters for the rising numbers of victims of violence and abuse.
According to a worldwide statistic on violence against women, every third woman in the world becomes a victim of violence or sexual abuse during their life. 35 % of women suffer from physical or sexual violence from their husband or close friends. In Nepal, numbers of domestic violence against women are even increasing.
The main goal of the World Conference of Women’s Shelters is to strengthen the role of women shelters to combat violence against women. Furthermore the aims are to increase the activity and influence of national and international shelter networks and to raise awareness among governments, international organizations and the general public about the problems of violence against women and to stimulate actions to support shelters.

The Women’s Foundation: The rain-triggered disasters have caused havoc across the country killing at least 65 persons (24 women and 41 male), 30 gone missing (12 Female & 18 male) and 38 are injured due to floods and landslides triggered by the continual rain for the past few days in eastern and central parts of the country and 1446 persons are rescued.

The details updated data upto 7 am, 15^th July 2019 revealed by the Home Ministry of Nepal Government as:

Concerned authorities, local people and volunteers had supported in rescuing the flood and landslide victims; and have put their efforts to rescue those missing. The affected areas has been disrupted in many ways as the electricity poles were swept away, houses are filled with water, livestock and crops are swept away and living under the fear.

80% land of the province 2 is submerged under water and millions of people are living under tarpaulin without food, drinking water, electricity, communication, transportation and all other facilities. The local people are outraged because of the government has been taking a snail’s pace approach to tackle the crisis. Every year the lack of disaster preparation results in this kind of situation as loosing many lives of people, livestock and agricultural land. In the present context, we have three levels of government (federal, provincial and local), however the lack of coordination for quick rescue and relief of people hit by calamities is really making people very sad. Also, there might occur serious problems as water borne infections, encephalitis, snakebites and other fatal diseases. In the affected areas, the situation for the children, aging people and women are in very worst situation and concerned authorities should focus on serving these section of population.

The cabinet of Nepal Government has decided to provide the relief and rehabilitation to the victims only after getting the official statistics. The government’s efforts for the immediate rescue of flood and landslide victims across the country and relief for the affected has failed to impress them. According to the Flood Forecasting Section, water level in the major rivers is coming down. The section, however, has warned people to remain alert, as it is still raining in the different parts of the country and weather is not clear as rainfall is likely to continue till. 

Inclusive and sustainable development around the world -leaving no one behind- is the overarching vision of the UN’s 2030 Agenda. However, it is very miserable that women have low income in comparison to men and low status in Nepal. Additionally, social stigma and barriers are making the situation tougher.  By providing skill trainings to women, it would help them to be economically empowered and self-dependent. After this training, the women could get proper job or even they could start their own business.

Renu Sharma, President of Women’s Foundation exclaimed, “If women possess the skills, the world would be in their hand.”

Through the combined efforts with the support of Rotary Club of Healesville – Australia, the Women’s Foundation has organized the 3 months shoe making training for women which is aimed at increasing women’s access to skill for improving their financial independence, employment opportunities and aiming to boost their quality of life. The training was started from 26^th March 2019 and would end in 25^th June 2019.

There are in total 17 participants selected for this program instead it was proposed for 10 beneficiaries. However, more participants demanded for the training and our board had decided to provide the same training for more women. Except 17 participants, more women were interested to join the training but we do not have capacity to provide for more women. Up to the date, the beneficiaries are able to:

• Cut and paste the materials
• Making upper part of the shoe
• Fixing the golden lace for the border of shoe
• Sewing the borders of the shoes
• Measuring, Cutting and Pasting sole
• Fixing heel of shoes
• Making plain shoes with golden lace
• At present, learning designs and embroider for making designed shoes

We believe, this training would help the women to develop their skills and empower them economically. Creating such opportunities and environment reduces gender inequality and shapes women’s choices of occupations, jobs and places of work.