Yakin Ertürk, Director, UN Division for the Advancement of Women
...The issues which widows generally face and those encountered by women in developing countries are cause for serious concern. The situation of widows should continue to be featured on the international fora until they become firmly integrated into the policy agenda.
Women's property, Supreme Court ruling from Kathmandu
On November 29, the Supreme Court ruled that women under 35 would no longer need their parents' or husband's consent to apply for a passport.
This time the court has given two more reasons to celebrate.
First, the Supreme Court on Thursday ruled that women are not required to obtain consent from their father, husband, son and unmarried daughter if they wish to sell and hand over ownership of their property.
Second, the court has ordered the government to review a provision in the Civil Code that deprives married women of parental property and forces women to return such property once they get married.
The Supreme Court said the existing provision in the Civil Code, which forces women to return property after their marriage, contravenes the right to equality and CEDAW.
Under the order, the government is required to form a committee of parties and experts concerned to review the existing provision.
Taking up public interest litigation filed by Pro-Public, an NGO and Lily Thapa, president of Women for Human Rights Single Women Group, the court on Thursday scrapped a provision in the Civil Code ( 11th Amendment) relating to Women's Exclusive Property.
The provision made it mandatory for unmarried women, married women and widows to obtain the consent of their father, husband, and son or unmarried daughter if they wish to sell or hand over ownership of more than half their property.
Women were however free to use their property at will if the amount is being used was less than half the total property.
A special bench comprising Justices Min Bahadur Rayamajhi, Badri Kumar Basnet and Kalyal Shrestha issued the court orders today.
From the Kathmandu Post, Friday December 16, 2005
Thanks to WHR for sending us this article
From WRI Newsletter 6 - Full copies of the Newsletter available from WRI office