E-Kantipur

SEP 18 -

The representation of women is still lopsided in Nepal’s security forces. They are marginalised in terms of both number and representation in the decision-making posts.

In the 93,000-strong Nepal Army, there are 1,712 women soldiers. Of the five women who reached the rank of brigadier general, three have retired and two are currently in service. In the infantry, the highest rank held by women is captain, and altogether 309 women hold officer posts in the NA.

Nepal Army started recruiting females in 1962 and most are in the nursing and medical sector. It started recruiting women in military police and combat duties only in 2003. The Army had announced its goal of recruiting five percent women in its force after the political change of 2006. The Interim Constitution commits to ensuring 33 percent representation of women in the state mechanisms.

NA Spokesperson Ramindra Chhetri says that NA is committed to increasing women ’s representation to five percent in its force. 

“New recruitment in the Army was stalled for two years since 2009 and we hope to meet our goal within the next seven to eight years,” he said. Currently, NA has allocated 45 percent of seats for reservation quota in the new recruitment of which 20 percent are allotted to women . Outlining his priorities, new Army chief General Gaurav SJB Rana last week announced to develop women -friendly infrastructure during his three-year tenure.

Similarly, of the 60,130 personnel, there are 3,475 women in the Nepal Police. Females are commanding two posts of deputy inspector general, five posts of senior superintendent of police, three posts of superintendent of police, 18 posts of deputy superintendent of police, 43 inspectors and 142 sub-inspectors.

Nepal Police has a women cell to look after gender-based violence. The Cabinet this month has endorsed 1,041 new posts for women in the police force to make institution more inclusive.

“The move is aimed at the empowerment and mainstreaming of women ,” said Home Secretary Nabin Kumar Ghimire.

“We strongly believe that additional vacancies would be instrumental in handling crimes against women , including gender-based violence.”

In the Armed Police Force, which has 31,275 personnel, there are 1,134 women including 3 deputy superintendents of police and 22 inspectors. Senior army and police officials say women ’s increased representation will help increase Nepal’s contribution to the UN peacekeeping.

Of the total 3,979 Nepali peacekeepers deployed at 13 UN missions last month, the number of females is only 94. The UN has been stressing recruitment of female peacekeepers and so far has all-female UN police units, Indian in Liberia, Bangladeshi in Haiti and Samoan in Timor, according to the Directorate of Peacekeeping Operations of the UN.

 

Posted on: 2012-09-18 08:34

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