PLEASE HELP

Human rights defender Rita Mahato has been threatened with death, rape and kidnapping as a result of her work helping women in Nepal who have suffered acts of violence. She is a health adviser at the Women’s Rehabilitation Centre (WOREC), which has been attacked by men from the village who object to WOREC’s work. The police have failed to provide Rita Mahato with protection or to investigate the threats, and she fears for her life.

Rita Mahato documents cases of violence against women during her work at WOREC in Bastipur Village Development Committee, a village in Siraha district. She plays a vital role in ensuring that cases are officially registered, as the police are often reluctant to do so.

In June 2007, between 60 and 70 men arrived at the WOREC offices, threatening Rita Mahato and other staff with rape and death and insisting that they leave the village within five days. The same month, around 20 people threw bricks at the WOREC office. When staff went outside to confront the group, bricks were thrown at them for about two hours and then the attackers ran away. Despite reporting these incidents to the police and requesting protection, no action was taken.

Rita Mahato continues to receive threats and to face discrimination in her community as a result of her work for WOREC. She has been told that a woman who is not educated should not be doing a man’s job, and that men can force women to go back to where they belong. She feels threatened and fears she may be killed, yet continues her crucial work defending the human rights of women.

ACT NOW

1. Write to the Inspector General of Police:

• calling on them to take all possible measures to ensure the protection and safety of Rita Mahato;
• urging them to develop a national plan of action to implement the UN Declaration enabling human rights defenders to carry out their legitimate work without fear of reprisals.

Inspector General of Police
Ramesh Chand Thakuri
Police Headquarters
GPO Box 407
Naxal
Kathmandu
Nepal

Fax: +977 1 4 415 593 or 594
Email: info@nepalpolice.gov.np
Salutation: Dear Inspector General

2. Write a letter of support to Rita Mahato:

I am writing to express my solidarity with you and your colleagues at WOREC. I wish you strength and hope in your courageous attempts to defend women in Nepal who have suffered acts of violence. We are writing to the Police Headquarters urging them to ensure your safety and to develop a national plan of action to enable human rights defenders to carry out their legitimate work without fear of reprisals.

WOREC
PO Box 13233
Balkumari, Lalitpur
Nepal

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