KATHMANDU: The Nepal Women Association (NWA) has drawn the attention of the government to withdraw the proposed law that would legalize polygamy in certain circumstances.
Submitting a memorandum to Minister for Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs, Ajay Kumar Chaurasiya, the Association urged the Minister to immediately take back the proposed law to that end.
Terming the proposed legal provision as irresponsible, regressive and objectionable, the NWA said it would ruin the hard-earned achievements in the area of women rights and restore a practice of polygamy.
“The proposal has clear intention of legalizing the criminal offenses like polygamy”, reads the memo. The Association objected to the argument of a high-ranking official in the Law Ministry that ‘the provision was brought to protect the rights of second woman and her children.’
“This argument is a brazen attack on women’s self-respect”, argued the Association, stating that it was the responsibility of the State to protect the rights of a single woman and her children.
The memo reads, “Restoring this provision under any pretext would be a betrayal to the long and arduous struggle launched by women for justice and equality.”
The Association also strongly demanded the government withdraw the anti-women and regressive proposal brought with ill intention without any delay.
Comment