Environmental Issues
Sedimentation and discharge of industrial effluents are sources of water pollution, and the burning of wood for fuel is a significant source of air pollution and respiratory problems. Vehicular and industrial emissions have added to air pollution in urban areas.
Deforestation and land degradation appear to affect a far greater proportion of the population and have the worst consequences for economic growth and individuals’ livelihoods. Forest loss has contributed to floods, soil erosion, and stagnant agricultural output. Often cited causes of deforestation include population growth, high fuelwood consumption, infrastructure projects, and conversion of forests into grazing- and cropland. According to government estimates, 1.5 million tons of soil nutrients are lost annually, and by 2002 approximately 5% of agricultural holdings cannot be farmed on because of soil erosion and flooding.
Deforestation and land degradation appear to affect a far greater proportion of the population and have the worst consequences for economic growth and individuals’ livelihoods. Forest loss has contributed to floods, soil erosion, and stagnant agricultural output. Often cited causes of deforestation include population growth, high fuelwood consumption, infrastructure projects, and conversion of forests into grazing- and cropland. According to government estimates, 1.5 million tons of soil nutrients are lost annually, and by 2002 approximately 5% of agricultural holdings cannot be farmed on because of soil erosion and flooding.
Human Rights Record
A briefing published by Amnesty International highlights the increasing repression of sexual and reproductive rights in many countries around the world that prioritize repressive policies over human rights and basic freedoms.
reproductive rights.
The My Body My Rights campaign encourages young people around the world to know and demand their right to make decisions about their health, body, sexuality and reproduction without state control, fear, coercion or discrimination. It also seeks to remind world leaders of their obligations to take positive action, including through access to health services.
Amnesty International Secretary General Salil Shetty marked the launch by meeting women in rural communities in Nepal - where many girls are forced to marry as children and more than half a million women suffer from a debilitating condition known as uterine prolapse, or fallen womb, as a result of continuous pregnancy and hard labour.
Widespread and systemic gender discrimination in Nepal has led to hundreds of thousands of women suffering from a reproductive health condition that leaves them in great pain, unable to carry out daily tasks and often ostracized from their families and communities.
An urgent widespread human rights issue in Nepal is Uterine prolapse, which is a root in discrimination that has severely limited the ability of women and girls to make decisions about their sexual and reproductive lives. Harsh working environments, early marriages and having too many children all contribute to the condition.
There are many causes for uterine prolapse, including giving birth at a young age, having many children within a short space of time, inadequate nutrition, lack of access to skilled health workers during labour and being forced to do physical work during or soon after pregnancy. However, at the heart of the problem is persistent discrimination against women and girls that has gone unaddressed by successive Nepali governments.
Women and girls are denied control of their own bodies and lives. Many are unable to decide if or when to marry or have children, whether to use contraception or how many children to have. Ensuring they are able to access quality healthcare during pregnancy is often out of women’s own hands.
Discrimination also puts women at risk of domestic violence, including marital rape.
Nepali governments’ efforts to address uterine prolapse prevention and gender discrimination have fallen far short of what is needed.
Nepal urgently needs a comprehensive plan to prevent uterine prolapse so fewer women and girls have to suffer through this condition. Ministries have to take responsibility for something affecting hundreds of thousands of women and girls.
Any prevention plan must include effective measures to tackle gender discrimination, and ensure that women and girls know about uterine prolapse and are empowered to make decisions about their own lives.
reproductive rights.
The My Body My Rights campaign encourages young people around the world to know and demand their right to make decisions about their health, body, sexuality and reproduction without state control, fear, coercion or discrimination. It also seeks to remind world leaders of their obligations to take positive action, including through access to health services.
Amnesty International Secretary General Salil Shetty marked the launch by meeting women in rural communities in Nepal - where many girls are forced to marry as children and more than half a million women suffer from a debilitating condition known as uterine prolapse, or fallen womb, as a result of continuous pregnancy and hard labour.
Widespread and systemic gender discrimination in Nepal has led to hundreds of thousands of women suffering from a reproductive health condition that leaves them in great pain, unable to carry out daily tasks and often ostracized from their families and communities.
An urgent widespread human rights issue in Nepal is Uterine prolapse, which is a root in discrimination that has severely limited the ability of women and girls to make decisions about their sexual and reproductive lives. Harsh working environments, early marriages and having too many children all contribute to the condition.
There are many causes for uterine prolapse, including giving birth at a young age, having many children within a short space of time, inadequate nutrition, lack of access to skilled health workers during labour and being forced to do physical work during or soon after pregnancy. However, at the heart of the problem is persistent discrimination against women and girls that has gone unaddressed by successive Nepali governments.
Women and girls are denied control of their own bodies and lives. Many are unable to decide if or when to marry or have children, whether to use contraception or how many children to have. Ensuring they are able to access quality healthcare during pregnancy is often out of women’s own hands.
Discrimination also puts women at risk of domestic violence, including marital rape.
Nepali governments’ efforts to address uterine prolapse prevention and gender discrimination have fallen far short of what is needed.
Nepal urgently needs a comprehensive plan to prevent uterine prolapse so fewer women and girls have to suffer through this condition. Ministries have to take responsibility for something affecting hundreds of thousands of women and girls.
Any prevention plan must include effective measures to tackle gender discrimination, and ensure that women and girls know about uterine prolapse and are empowered to make decisions about their own lives.
Civil War and Landmine Prevalence
The Nepalese Civil War was an armed conflict between government forces and Maoist fighters in Nepal which lasted from 1996 until 2006.
More than 15000 people were killed (both Maoist and civilians) by the government, this conflict disrupted the majority of rural development activities for ten whole years.
As a result of the civil war, Nepal's greatest source of foreign exchange, its tourism industry, suffered considerably.
Even after the end of it’s Civil War, Nepal has not yet joined the Mine Ban Treaty. The republic stated that recommendations regarding accession to the Mine Ban Treaty would be completed “soon.”
The Comprehensive Peace Agreement committed the government and the Unified Communist Party of Nepal/Maoist rebels to halt the use of mines, and required the parties to assist each other to mark and clear mines.
More than 15000 people were killed (both Maoist and civilians) by the government, this conflict disrupted the majority of rural development activities for ten whole years.
As a result of the civil war, Nepal's greatest source of foreign exchange, its tourism industry, suffered considerably.
Even after the end of it’s Civil War, Nepal has not yet joined the Mine Ban Treaty. The republic stated that recommendations regarding accession to the Mine Ban Treaty would be completed “soon.”
The Comprehensive Peace Agreement committed the government and the Unified Communist Party of Nepal/Maoist rebels to halt the use of mines, and required the parties to assist each other to mark and clear mines.
Water Use
Water is the most important natural resource of Nepal. Nepal is rich in water resource. Nepal has unlimited supply of water. Nepal is the second richest in the water resources in the world after Brazil.
Nepal is a landlocked country. Therefore Nepal does not have access to the sea or oceans. But there are lots of rivers that flow from the Himalayas. When snow melts in the Himalayas, rivers are formed. The main rivers of Nepal are Mechi, Koshi, Narayani, Gandaki, Karnali and Mahakali. These rivers have several tributaries. In addition to these Kankai, Bagmati, Trishuli, Marshyangi, Seti, Rapti, Bheri and also important rivers of Nepal.
Lakes are also important sources of water. There are many lakes in Nepal. Rara lake is the largest. It is located in Mugu district. The second largest lake is the Phewa. It is in Pokhara, Kaski. Begnas and Rupa lakes are also in Pokhara. Lakes are usually large areas of water surrounded by land.
Nepal is a landlocked country. Therefore Nepal does not have access to the sea or oceans. But there are lots of rivers that flow from the Himalayas. When snow melts in the Himalayas, rivers are formed. The main rivers of Nepal are Mechi, Koshi, Narayani, Gandaki, Karnali and Mahakali. These rivers have several tributaries. In addition to these Kankai, Bagmati, Trishuli, Marshyangi, Seti, Rapti, Bheri and also important rivers of Nepal.
Lakes are also important sources of water. There are many lakes in Nepal. Rara lake is the largest. It is located in Mugu district. The second largest lake is the Phewa. It is in Pokhara, Kaski. Begnas and Rupa lakes are also in Pokhara. Lakes are usually large areas of water surrounded by land.