Fears grow over Nepal�s �anti-women� constitution

Nepal’s proposed new constitution has sparked fury from women who say their citizenship, property and other rights are being curtailed by the document designed to draw a line under centuries of inequality, reports AFP from Kathmandu.
Lawmakers tabled a draft in parliament in June shortly after bickering political parties struck an historic deal on the long-awaited charter, spurred to negotiation by an earthquake in March that killed more than 8,800 people.
But a series of sometimes violent protests have since hit the impoverished, Himalayan nation, with activists saying the charter has failed to address a string of concerns.
Forty-year-old shop owner Rama Bista says the charter poses a major step back for women, in a country that has long favoured men.
Bista, who is married to an Indian man based in Nepal, has spent the last four years trying to secure citizenship for her two sons—their legal right under the current constitution.
“I cannot even speak of some of the things I’ve been told. They tell me my children are not Nepali, that I should go to my husband’s country,” Bista told the news agency. But Bista’s already tough struggle is set to become impossible under the new charter which bars single parents from passing on their citizenship to their children and additionally says both parents must be Nepalese.

Fears grow over Nepal�s �anti-women� constitution

Nepals proposed new constitution has sparked fury from women who say their citizenship, property and other rights are being curtailed by the document designed to draw a line under centuries of inequality, reports AFP from Kathmandu. Lawmakers tabled a draft in parliament in June shortly after bickering political parties struck an historic deal on the long-awaited charter, spurred to negotiation by an earthquake in March that killed more than 8,800 people. But a series of sometimes violent protests have since hit the impoverished, Himalayan nation, with activists saying the charter has failed to address a string of concerns. Forty-year-old shop owner Rama Bista says the charter poses a major step back for women, in a country that has long favoured men. Bista, who is married to an Indian man based in Nepal, has spent the last four years trying to secure citizenship for her two sonstheir legal right under the current constitution. I cannot even speak of some of the things Ive been told. They tell me my children are not Nepali, that I should go to my husbands country, Bista told the news agency. But Bistas already tough struggle is set to become impossible under the new charter which bars single parents from passing on their citizenship to their children and additionally says both parents must be Nepalese.