[WITHDRAWN] At Least Someone Has My Back: Family Strategies to Address Domestic Violence in Pokhara, Nepal

Background and Purpose: As in many countries around the world, women’s rights organizations in Nepal have used international human rights policy to advocate for laws to address domestic violence (DV). Nepali activists and service providers have also played a leading role translating international and national policies into local practice. While much international research has described the oppressive roles played by family members in the country, little has explored the role of extended family as a potential resource for survivors. Thus, the knowledge of local communities, activists, and service providers addressing DV is not reaching international policymakers whose agendas influence social work practice in Nepal. Given that survivors often first disclose their experiences to informal support networks, and that in South Asia seeking support from family has been a primary strategy used by DV survivors, this is a critical area of research.

Based in qualitative interviews and focus group discussions with non-governmental (NGO) service providers working in Pokhara, Nepal and surrounding rural areas, the present study sought answers to the following research questions:

1. What kinds of support do DV survivors seek from family members?
2. How do family members support survivors and address DV?

Methods: Field research for this project was carried out in Pokhara across two summers (2015, 2018), alongside a local partner organization. Nine interviews and 7 focus groups (n=58) were conducted in Nepali language with upper management and field staff in NGOs that served diverse constituents in both urban and rural settings. Interviews and focus groups were conducted, transcribed, and analyzed in Nepali language and data analysis was carried out using standard practices in the analysis of qualitative data, such as multiple readings, coding, categorizing the data, and the use of memos and diagrams to find patterns within the data. Rigor was enhanced through consultation with local collaborators and scholars working in the field, reflexive memos, and a detailed audit trail.

Results: In Nepal, extended patrilocal families are the normative family structure, and this had important implications for survivor support. Service providers described a pattern of support-seeking that began within households in which survivors lived, then extended to non-cohabitating family networks. Experiences were shared in which family members provided emotional support as well as instrumental support including a place to stay, childcare, and support to obtain legal documents necessary to pursue divorce while maintaining rights such as rights to property and child custody. At times, family members confronted those using violence, reminding them of the ways in which their actions have breached social norms. Service providers perceived that when family members provided such supports for survivors, this led to improved outcomes, including greater sense of well-being, and improved economic, social, and legal standing that enhanced survivors’ available options.

Conclusion/Implications: This research suggests that family members can be a valuable resource for survivors in Pokhara and surrounding areas. When the potential support that extended family may provide is understood, policymakers and practitioners can strengthen those supports as part of broader strategies to address DV in Nepal and beyond.