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Please click on the petition button and sign the petition to
help support Rita Mahato and her staff in their fight against
discrimination, and violence. Because of their work with
the Women's Rehabilitation center (WOREC), it has put
them in danger and afraid for their lives. You can read the
rest of the case below.

NEPAL: Protect health advisor Rita Mahato from violence
Rita Mahato should be receiving support for her work with
the Women’s Rehabilitation Centre WOREC in Nepal’s
Siraha District. Instead, she receives threats and she fears
for her life.

WOREC investigates and documents cases of sexual
violence against women, and provides health and legal
support to victims. When police do not respond to attacks,
Rita and her colleagues register the cases with them and
help arrest the attackers by documenting the incidents.

WOREC staff regularly face discrimination and humiliation
for raising the issue of domestic sexual violence and
promoting women’s rights. Some Nepalese defenders of
women’s human rights have even been killed.
Rita and other WOREC staff have received threats
because of their work. In June 2007, for example, more
than 60 men arrived at the WOREC offices. They
threatened Rita Mahato and other staff with rape and
death, and insisted that they leave the village within five
days. In the same month, about 20 people threw bricks at
the WOREC office for two hours. Police received reports of
these incidents and requests for protection, but have yet
to take any action.

Rita continues to feel vulnerable and fears for her life.