Women’s rights activists in Kavre submitted a memorandum to the Prime Minister through the District Administration Office, Kavrepalanchok on 4 August 2025, protesting a draft law that seeks to amend the Criminal Code 2017 to legalize polygamy.
The memorandum states that the news regarding the Criminal Procedure Code Amendment Bill and the proposed amendment to the Criminal Code 2017, which includes a provision to legalize polygamy, has drawn the attention of women’s rights activists. It emphasizes that women are already facing difficulties due to the inadequate implementation of existing laws.
Furthermore, while violence against women and girls continues to rise, the legalization of polygamy, as proposed in the draft, would further increase their vulnerability to such violence. The memorandum, therefore, expresses strong objection to the inclusion of polygamy in the proposed legislation.
Maya Bade, the Founding Chairperson of the District Network of Women Human Rights Defenders, Ganga Dong, Chairperson of the NGO Federation, Nirmala Kafle from Tarangini Women’s Training Center; Gayatri Gautam from Maiti Nepal; women’s rights activists Gita Sunar, Srijana Pyakurel, Usha Aryal, Saraswati Shrestha, and around 12 other women reached the District Administration Office in Dhulikhel today with the memorandum of concern.