Global Women's Voices: Share Personal Stories

Kusum, Nepal

Submitted by:

I am the victim of dowry and forced miscarriage. I had dreamt for a good husband and a good family for my future. I got married to a man and then my in-laws started torturing me for not bringing video cassette recorder as a dowry. I was trying to cope with the situation thinking that it was my fate. I got pregnant. My father and mother in-laws were angry for not bring the enough dowry and that is why they did not liked me to be at their house. They might have thought that having baby means gaining more love from the husband.

So they mixed the medicine for abortion in my food and gave it to me without my notice and I miscarried my baby during the seventh month of the pregnancy. When I started bleeding my father in law asked me to go to the hospital. I went to the hospital but my father in law called the police and accused me that I wanted to have the abortion to remain beautiful. Then police took me under the custody. I realized that I really need to fight against the false accusations. My father fought against the case and we won. I am now living with my parents. The partial reason for me to be at the jail was my husband. Had he taken my side I would have been more strong.

[This story was told to Indira Rana Magar of founder of PA Nepal by the victim. Indira Rana Magar is the activist working for the such kind of victims. The real name has been kept secret to protect privacy.]

updated: 7/2/2004