KATHMANDU: The government has accelerated a campaign against Chhaupadi, a cultural practice that banishes menstruating women and new mothers from homes for certain days.

The Chhaupadi practice is common in some districts in the mid-west and far-west of Nepal.

The Ministry of Women, Children, and Senior Citizens is organizing ‘International Workshop on Dignified Menstruation’ from May 26 to 28.

Minister Parbat Gurung informed researchers, government representatives, menstrual health rights activists, and policymakers from 20 countries would participate in the workshop.

The workshop to be organized with the theme ‘Dignified Menstruation, Menstrual Talk Dignity First’ aims at realizing the people that ‘every individual deserves dignity during menstruation’.

Aspects relating to menstruation, an end to ban from the kitchen, parliament, sexual and reproductive health rights, religious belief in regard to menstruation, hygiene and Chhaupadi related act, law and policy, among others are the agenda of discussions.