Nepal, July 29 -- Nepal has taken visible steps toward gender equality, especially in cities where policy talks and empowerment campaigns are common. Streets buzz with development, and conversations about women's rights echo in conference halls. But away from the city lights, in quiet villages and remote areas, a different reality still exists. Menstruation, a natural process experienced by half the population, is still surrounded by shame, silence, and sometimes life-threatening risks.

In the far-western hills of Nepal, a practice called chhaupadi still exists, even though it's now illegal. During their periods, women and girls are forced to leave their homes and stay in tiny huts or cattle sheds, called chhau/goths. They are considered...