Currently, the sixteen-day campaign against gender violence is going on all over the world. Gender-based violence, especially against women and girls, is a challenge not only in Nepal but also in the world. The World Health Organization has a broad definition of violence.

According to which violence is the intentional use of force or power against an individual, group or community that results in injury, mental trauma, death, stunting or deprivation of the possibility of development or is likely to occur. 

There are numerous forms of sexual violence. Gender-based violence in politics is the discriminatory treatment of women active in politics or those with a different gender identity based on gender, which leads to the aforementioned situation.

In this article, an attempt has been made to cover the various dimensions of violence in politics and their effects. The included data is based on the results of research conducted with women, gender and sexual minorities active in politics in Nepal. 

Being deprived in one way or another from mainstream life, politics and social participation is also violence. There are legal and constitutional provisions to prevent it. For example: Article 38 of the Constitution of Nepal ensures the rights of women and Article 40 of Dalits.

Article 42 (1) provides for socially backward women, Dalits, tribals, tribal tribes, Madheshi, Tharu, minorities, persons with disabilities, marginalized, Muslims, backward classes, gender and sexual minorities, youth, farmers, workers, Citizens and economically disadvantaged Khas Aryas from oppressed or backward areas have been ensured the right to participate in the state bodies based on inclusive principles. However, the participation and access of women, gender and sexual minorities and marginalized groups in politics has not been meaningful. 

Various sources and events and news continue to expose cases of gender violence against women leaders within political parties or in public life. However, the question of how these incidents end and what actions are taken against the perpetrators remains a mystery. Over the past few years, with the development of information and technology, a large population is busy online.

With this, misleading, fake news and hate speech in politics is becoming more widespread through social media and online media. Such behavior is more aggressive, hateful and criminal towards politically active women and marginalized communities.

Therefore, like many other issues of gender violence, it has become inevitable to document the understanding of gender violence in politics (online and offline), its prevalence, impact on personal, political life, leadership opportunities and the relationship with inclusive democracy. 

Gender violence in politics

To understand the various forms of violence, it may be relevant to mention an incident that happened in a program some time ago. There was an interaction between women elected in local bodies or participating in elections about their election experiences. Political women representing all parties were present in the program room. Suddenly a man entered the hall and started commenting on the woman's presence. As I was facilitating the

event, I asked her to stay and help out if she attended the event. In response, he came out declaring that all the women present were in his pocket and if he wanted, he had the power to pick everyone up from the program and vacate the hall immediately. His behavior was not only insulting but also obscene to all the women present. He has been an influential leader who has become a minister.  In the

discussion, the participant narrated the list of gender violence that she had to face while being active in politics as a woman, especially during the election, which was surprising and painful. Such examples abound in society, but only a few go public and speak out against them. If anyone opposes or opposes such actions, that is the obstacle to the political journey.

Another recent incident is still fresh before us. When a question was raised about the financial governance of the party within the UML, the two women leaders had to give an explanation. It remains to be seen what the long-term effects of this will be. However, it immediately conveys the message that different opinions lead to different behavior.

This proves the duplicity of not wanting or promoting women leadership in the party but directly or indirectly trying to prevent them from reaching the leadership level (unless there is a compelling situation). 

According to a research conducted in Nepal, India and Pakistan in 2014, more than 60 percent of women do not want to be active in politics because of possible violence. In a research conducted among women active in politics in Nepal, 66 percent of female leaders have experienced one or more types of violence in their political life.

Such violence is mainly physical (physical attack, beating, rape) including behavioral harassment, verbal abuse, questioning of competence, insults, not allowing the use of rights, not accepting leadership, sexual abuse. Questioning the character of active women in politics and being the easiest weapon of violence to attack sexuality, and the fact that women at all levels have to face it, portrays the low-level thinking and behavior towards women in society. 

Women with different identities such as Dalit, Madhesi, unmarried, single, widow, gender and sexual minority, disabled have experienced double violence on the basis of their identity.

The majority of women leaders share their experiences of being linked to their family background based on gender roles or focusing on dress and sexuality, but ignoring their leadership skills and political contributions.

Such violence happens everywhere at home, society, workplace. But the fact that most 61 percent say violence is from their own political party, party members and colleagues is still scary. This fact confirms the global data that the perpetrators of violence against women are the closest people. 

Digitization of violence

Perceptions, thoughts and behaviors about women prevalent in society can be seen on social media. As much as the proliferation of the Internet has facilitated access to information, it has also helped to fuel misinformation and negativity. If someone is sexually assaulted on the basis of a social or political opinion, that is violence.

For example, during the elections, a woman leader was publicly threatened with rape for her comments on Twitter. Similarly, the comments made on the internet about the dress of another female leader were very low-level, hateful, misogynistic and insulting. 

According to a study conducted by Panas South Asia before the local elections, 243 misogynistic topics targeting women politicians were identified in a period of about three months. Those themes were in social media, websites and print. According to a study conducted by the Purple Foundation, 87 percent of social media users said that 28 percent have experienced sexual violence online.

research shows that online violence increases the higher one reaches the political level. Research shows that social structure, education, age, political activism influence exposure to online violence. It has been observed that online violence during elections is more than any other time and women candidates are attacked through fake news, hate speech. There are many facts about

media reporting news without checking the facts, making cartoons that insult women and gender and sexual minorities, and making insulting racial comments about leaders of Dalit or marginalized communities. It also shows that the physical violence is transforming into the virtual world and pushing the affected person to a deep mental trauma. 

Mechanisms to address violence

There are no laws to address gender-based violence in Nepal. However, there is almost no mechanism to address violence within politics. Political parties are trying to publicize incidents of gender violence within the party and suppress the perpetrators instead of punishing them. Those affected do not want to go through the complaint process, to bring the incident out.

because the practice of questioning, vilifying and ostracizing the affected is prevalent in politics as in other public life. Whether online or offline, there is no set method, procedure, policy or system within political parties to deal with it.

In some parties, this matter falls under the disciplinary department or the code of conduct, which monitors such incidents or takes action, but it is not effective when it comes to sexual violence. According to those affected, the leadership level of the party is not serious about this matter and they are trying to prevent such incidents from happening as much as possible. 

Institutions and mechanisms to address violence through digital space are either unavailable or ineffective. There is no specific policy or arrangement on how to address sexual or other violence in the digital space in the changing context within the political party.

Although there are some provisions under the Electronic Transactions Act at the state level, they are vague and incomplete. Due to the complex and cumbersome process, complaints based on centralized system, lack of sensitivity in hearing bodies and lack of skilled manpower, the affected people prefer to stay away from legal process. 

In order to address sexual violence in the political or non-political spheres in Nepal, to protect the victims and to prevent it, there is the Sexual Violence and Prevention Act, 2071. There are also legal and policy provisions like Domestic Violence (Crimes and Punishment) Act, 2066, Gender Equality Policy, 2077. However, the question of how effectively these laws have been implemented and affected is the subject of another research. 

Gender-based violence experienced by people active in politics has a profound short-term and long-term impact on a person physically, mentally and emotionally. While experiencing such violence, many women and leaders of marginalized communities have not only avoided public life, not using social media, but have also started to remain silent on political or social issues.

This has hampered their political journey, even depriving them of opportunities. Its relationship is directly connected with the spirit of leadership and inclusive democracy of all castes, religions, genders, classes, including women, marginalized communities, gender and sexual minorities.

Perpetuation of such a situation is also a serious violation of human rights. This raises questions about the rule of law or the rule of law itself. If this situation continues or increases, the citizens will not be able to get the rights protected by the constitution. This is a challenge to the practice of inclusive democracy. 

How to end violence? 

Gender violence in politics is not caused by any special situation but is a continuation of patriarchal, feudal thinking and behavior that has been rooted in the society for centuries. The political and social changes that took place at various times, although there were positive changes at the theoretical level, did not bring reasonable changes at the practical level and at the level of thinking.

Women and marginalized people were made the bearers of change, but after achieving the objective, society, order and system and the political party itself became a challenge to accept the changed role and leadership. As a result, not only gender, caste, but many other forms of conflict and discontent are increasing in the society, whether visible or invisible, and leading to unimaginable forms of violence. Therefore, understanding the seriousness of these issues and addressing them in time is the major need now. 

For this, the government must follow and revise the constitution, laws, and international signed documents. It does not automatically apply when the law is enacted. It is necessary to be clear what the state is trying to do to ensure that the existing laws and policies are used. In order to end the increasing violence in the digital space, the government should amend the Electronic Transactions Act 2063 and make a cyber security policy and procedure focusing on the rights of victims of violence.

If local governments include content on digital rights and anti-gender violence in the curriculum from primary level, it will be useful for growing children. The government needs to take initiatives to make technology companies sensitive and responsible.

If the communication and journalism sector pays attention to ethical and responsible journalism rather than sexual and sensationalism and publishes only after checking the facts of the news, it will help to reduce such violence. The society and family should close the subject based on thinking and behavior of patriarcharous thoughts and beliefs, based on sexual immorality and sexuality. The initiative for the affected people should also begin to fight against generic violence in politics, making it publicting it public and nbsp in publication of gender violence in politics. & Nbsp;