Nepal Women Win Right to Get Passports Tue Nov 29,12:47 AM ET
KATMANDU, Nepal - Nepal's Supreme Court has ordered an end to a discriminatory practice that required women under age 35 to get written consent from her parents or husband to get a passport, the court said on Tuesday.
The court said in a statement that Judges Badri Kumar Basnet and Balram K.C. issued the order on Monday, saying the practice was discriminatory since men were not required to follow the same procedure.
The law had been previously enforced as a measure to fight the trafficking of women. Thousands of women were being trafficked to India every year and forced to work in brothels.
Women's rights activists hailed the court ruling. "It is a victory for women in Nepal," said Sapana Pradhan Malla of Forum for Women, Law and Development.
"The previous practice was discriminating against women since it stopped their right to mobility and right to self determine. The state had failed to treat men and women equally," Malla said