NATIONAL 9 (Spotlight Weelky)]

Unequal Half

The issue of equal property rights to women has once again come into focus after MPs collect public opinion

By SANJAYA DHAKAL

In the 10-year history of Nepal's parliament after the restoration of democracy, perhaps no bill has attracted so much public attention as the one dealing with equal property rights for women.

With opinion in support and against the bill flying thick and fast, the parliament, for the first time, decided to seek the views of the general public on the issue. The members of the House of Representatives Law and Parliamentary Affairs Committee visited 14 districts of the five development regions to seek suggestions regarding the legal provisions for ensuring women the right to ancestral property.

But observers have raised doubts over the rationale of collecting public opinion in such manner. "How can you say you have the public's opinion by merely visiting some places?" asked one lawyer, speaking on condition of anonymity. "The opinions they have collected can not be called representative of general masses."

The bill to amend the Civil Code was under parliamentary consideration after it was sent by the 16th session of the parliament to the committee for detailed clause-wise discussion.

Now the bill is poised to be introduced to the forthcoming 19th session of the parliament. The women's right activists are upbeat about this. "While it is odd to find that MPs found it necessary to collect public opinion in this bill only, we are happy that once again the bill will be introduced in the parliament," said Sapana Malla Pradhan, an advocate associated with the Women, Law and Development. "From what I have understood, the opinions gathered by the MPs, though they collected it primarily out of their concern for their respective votebanks, are largely positive towards giving women the equal property rights."

The political parties are yet to make up their mind about the bill. Although the main opposition UML has shown its willingness to pass it, there are still MPs, mainly from the Terai region, who believe any move to divide parental property among sons and daughters will disturb social harmony. Speaking at a program to review the bill recently, Speaker of the House of Representatives Taranath Rana Bhat emphasized the need for adequate homework to study the possible impacts that would be made on the society after the bill passes.

However, the lobbyists for the bill express concern that this time again the authorities would be introducing the bill merely as a formality. "If the bill is not introduced with priority, then it would be meaningless. But still I am hopeful as this bill is the government-sponsored one," said Malla.

The moves to introduce a bill to ensure equal property right to women were activated in Nepal after the world conference on women held in Beijing in 1994. There, the Nepalese authorities had pledged to formulate laws to ensure the right to women, abolish all legal provisions that discriminated women and establish their rights of reproductive health, among others.

Last year a review was made of the achievements of Beijing Conference in New York, which gave new recommendations for future strategy. "In that review meeting we found many countries have implemented the recommendations of Beijing Conference. But in Nepal, we are yet to see the Women's Commission materialize and there are still 118 legal provisions and 67 schedules that discriminate women," said Malla.

While no one doubts the deplorable condition of Nepalese women, many still think it would be premature to introduce bill to ensure equal property rights to women before making society ready. And there are others who believe the introduction of will system to give parental property would be the better option.

NEPAL-CHINA
Assessing Ties

As soon as he was back from New Delhi discussing a broad range of issues with his Indian counterpart, Foreign Secretary Narayan Shumsher Thapa found himself engaged in consultations with a senior Chinese official. The third consultation mechanism meeting between the foreign ministries of Nepal and China kicked off here Sunday. Assistant Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Foreign Secretary Thapa headed the delegations of the Chinese and Nepalese sides.

According to the Foreign Ministry, the consultations covered areas including exchange of visits at various levels, projects launched in Nepal with the cooperation of China, future economic cooperation, and matters of bilateral, regional and international interest. The consultation mechanism was established as per the agreement between the foreign ministries of the two countries in 1996. During his stay in Nepal, Mr. Wang also called on Prime Minister G. P. Koirala and senior government officials.

Meanwhile, reports said Chinese Defense Minister Chi Haotian is visiting Nepal later this month after visiting three East Asian countries. The Foreign Ministry here is yet to announce his itinerary and agenda for discussion.