Nepalese parliament has done a laudable task by enacting law that criminalizes isolation of women during their menstruation.
On August 9, Wednesday, the parliament passed the new law in a unanimous vote, keeping a provision of a three-month jail sentence or a 3,000 rupee fine ($30), or both, for anyone forcing a woman to follow the custom.
The law will come into effect in a year's time, according to media reports.
Forcing women to stay out of house during menstruation and after childbirth is based on an ancient Hindu practice called chhaupadi.
"A woman during her menstruation or post-natal state should not be kept in chhaupadi or treated with any kind of similar discrimination or untouchable and inhuman behaviour," reads the law, according to Aljazeera report.
Rights groups, which are working for women, are happy with this new law, hoping it will bring an end to discrimination towards women of many communities in Nepal, who view menstruating women as impure.
Photo: Aljazeera/ [Navesh Chitrakar/Reuters]
Please Follow and Upvote me @hkabir62