Megan

My friend and I split and went on our separate ways. Turning down towards the back streets which cut down to my house I bumped into three friends heading home. We bantered for a short while and then moved on. I hate walking down the dark alleyways to the guest house at night but I had my torch with me and that always makes me feel safer.
Up ahead I caught sight of the slight frame of a teenager/ university student age boy; he disappeared around the bend where bushes were sticking their long limbs into the way of the path. I followed, passing the bushes. Somehow the teenager had vanished entirely. In my head I told myself that he must have gone into the house with the low hanging verandah to my right. A few seconds down the road I heard someone walking a little way behind me; I turned nonchalantly and took in the teenager’s figure. Determined to think positively, I just turned back. Maybe I walked a little faster. I found myself listening intensely to the sound of the boy walking. His gait was a little off and I turned again. I could see his hand moving in the shadows. I didn’t allow myself to think. I was at the end of my cul-de-sac at this point. When I heard the footsteps following in my direction I turned to look at the boy again. This time there was more light and I could see him masturbating as he followed me. I lost my composure and fear took over. I ran down the the road to our gate screaming.

The boy was running full pelt after me masturbating as he came. Thankfully some of my friends heard me and they came running out of the door yelling. They yelled and chased the boy which scared him enough to run off. I was safely inside the gate with my friends, shaking and very relieved.

So this isn’t normally the kind of thing that I feel comfortable writing about but I felt that I needed to for a few reasons. Harassment is common all over the world and Nepali women have to deal with this kind of thing all the time and much much worse. That doesn’t mean we should play it down, not talk about it, feel guilty or ashamed or question what the girl was wearing to help us decide who to blame.

LG

I was walking home with a friend just after dark last night. A guy came behind us, grabbed me, stuck his hand up my skirt and groped me. It was all so quick I didn’t really realise what was happening. My friend and I both started to yell and the guy sprinted off the way he had come really quickly. He was wearing a hoodie and seemed quit young – twenties I’d say. Not sure what more to do – I wasn’t even walking on my own!

Another motorcycle assault

I was walking home from yoga at 7.30 pm earlier this year right after it got dark. I was wearing a long jacket and had a lose bag hanging covering my lower back down to my thighs. A guy on a motorcycle drow by and still managed to somehow get his hand close enough to slap my bum. I screamed loud “what the…” but the guy was already gone and I could not catch the number… I did not report the incidence to the police because I didn’t want to go through the hassle. Still I felt offended and insulted and I have stopped walking after dark even in my own area. Too bad that what might be a few idiots can ruin so much for so many women in this town…

Jolanda

Last Sunday at 15.00 I walked home with my 2 children. A motorcycle came up from behind us and slapped my bottom (hard!). I cursed and tried to run after him but my (young) daughter got upset so I stopped. I did not see his motorcycle or face but was extremely angry. The nerve of this guy!

Diana H

I was on my way from home to meet a friend at a restaurant, walking on a street that was quite dark because of load-shedding. I was talking to a friend on the phone, but noticed someone walking in the opposite direction carrying a computer bag. That person came to the same side of the street, even though there were no motorcycles coming by or any other reason, and when he passed me squeezed my butt with his hand and continued on his way.

I, however, turned around and in an increasingly loud voice yelled “What the hell?” He was apparently surprised at this but responded, “What? It was an accident!” and giggled with self-satisfaction. This angered me greatly, because what happened most definitely was not an accident, so I approached him and voiced this observation. He showed no sign of remorse but seemed amused, and because I was full of adrenaline, I continued to shout curses as loud as I could and punched him until he ran away.

The entire incident took maybe a minute and a half, and my friend on the other side of the phone (which I still held in my hand) had not realized what happened. People 200 meters down the street did not show interest in what was happening.

I thought of reporting this incident to the police, but did not think they would take it seriously and was apprehensive of the amount of time it would take, but I told all my friends and colleagues about what happened, where, how I reacted, and how the situation and my actions to deal with it made me feel. Don’t be silent!

only 12

I am 21 year old woman. This incident occurred to me when I was 12 years old.
I was travelling in a public bus with my mum. my mum was just in front of me. As the bus reached koteshwor, a guy behind me grabbed my boobs. I was shocked at his act, and to be honest i didn’t even know what the guy was doing with me. The guy was right behind me, and I didn’t have the courage to look at his face, and the most embarrassing part is, I DID NOT HAVE THE COURAGE TO TELL MY OWN MOTHER!!!!! When I think of this now, I feel so sick!! So, all I want to say is that, we need to open up, and let the women of all age to know that there is no stigma in being a victim of sexual harassment.

motorcycle assault

On a day of Laxmi puja I decided to take a different route from home to meet my friend just around the corner. I heard a motorcycle behind my back slowly approaching so I gave way. The next thing I know is in broad daylight the man on the motorcycle reached for my buttocks. In horror I screamed while the man went ahead me, turned around, gave me a glance over his shoulder and waited. I froze and my mind shutdown and I literally stood there thinking what just happened? I was in shock and unconsciously I stood outside a strangers door for good 3-4 minutes just to make sure the motorcyclist is gone. And my stupidity is that I didn’t even memorise the number plate! I’m having conflicting ideas on what if I had his bike number?what if he comes back? and how worse could had it been in worst cause scenario?

As a social worker and women empowerment supporter I have always encouraged women to speak out and fight for their rights. But last week I found my self questioning whether Nepal as a new reformed country is still not ready to give equal opportunities to women and how long are we to suffer being treated as a sex object?