Kathmandu: “Menstrual discrimination is a grave violation of the Constitutional rights,” said Surendra Basnet, the Executive Vice-Chair of National Youth Council Nepal, during a programme addressing “Dignified Menstruation within the Youth Policy” today. Basnet pledged to integrate the issues of dignified menstruation into the Youth Vision (2025-35), currently in the early stages of formulation. He emphasized the need to recognize the importance of dignified menstruation in state policies and actions, criticizing the portrayal of menstrual discrimination in a positive light, which further entrenches its institutionalization.
According to National News Agency Nepal, Basnet stressed that if Nepal’s population of approximately 30 million makes even a single step towards dignified menstruation, it would contribute significantly to building a menstruation-friendly society by eliminating all forms of menstrual discrimination. He assured that the issue would be communicated to the local level through youth networks
. Basnet appealed to the public to reach a point where families can self-declare the cessation of menstrual discrimination, emphasizing that it is a common concern that can no longer be ignored.
Dr. Radha Paudel, founder and CEO of the Global South Coalition for Dignified Menstruation, shared her experiences of menstrual discrimination and educated participants on dignified menstruation. She clarified that menstrual discrimination violates at least 14 fundamental rights in the Constitution, making it both a constitutional and political issue. Paudel urged the State to adopt effective policies and measures to implement dignified menstruation as a concept. She noted that neither the UN Conventions nor national policies have recognized menstrual discrimination as ‘violence’ or an impediment to societal advancement.
Paudel, a PhD scholar specializing in dignified menstruation, highlighted that research indicates menstrual discrimination is a global issue with 5,000 euphemistic expressions. She argued that under
standing it as a harmful practice akin to son preference, genital mutilation, and witchcraft accusations prevents a deeper comprehension of its pervasive nature and broader consequences.
Participants in the program shared personal experiences of being socialized from a young age to view menstruation as a source of fear, stress, stigma, and exclusion. They acknowledged that menstruation is a biological process and should not be used as a tool for violence against menstruators. The 23 participants reflected on their encounters with menstrual discrimination from ages 5 to 10, which organizers identified as the onset of unequal power and patriarchy.