About Us

Saathi

Saathi meaning ‘friend’ in Nepali is a non-governmental, non-profit organisation, which was established in 1992 to address contemporary challenges being faced  by Nepali women. In keeping with this agenda, Saathi identified Violence Against Women (VAW) and Children (C) as an area requiring urgent attention and intervention and has been working on this issue since this time.

Ninteen Years and moving ahead with the People

Ninteen years have passed ever since we pioneered to eliminate violence and injustice against women and Children in Nepal. Now, we do not look back. Instead we reflect ourselves in the smiles of the faces that have changed.. the lives that have changed.. the perspectives that have changed from our committed and consistent efforts. We have gone deeper into the community during these many years and realize that new conditions of life become more intricate and challenging for the marinalized. So, we continue to move ahead with them to work for justice and peace.

The Organisation

Saathi, a non governmental orgnization was established in 1992 to address contemporary challenges being faced by Nepali women. In keeping with this aganda, Saathi identified Violence Against Women (VAW) and Children (C) particularly domestic violence as an area requiring urgent attention and intervention. Saathi's objective is to work towords eliminating violence and injustice against women and children and to provide support to survivors/victims. Saathi's strategy is to work at all levels of the Nepali society. 

Saathi's Vision

The empowerment of women and children through the promotion of gender equity and equality based development.

Saathi's Mission

► To work towards eliminating injustice and VAW/C in Nepal.
► To provie support to children and women survivors/victims through residential facility (shelter)and empowerment program.
► To conduct research to indentify social issues concerning women and children in the urban and rural area of Nepal .
► To built the capacity of women and children for empowerment and sustenance .
► To advocate / lobby for the formulation, development and implementation of national plans and policies to improve the present status of Nepal women and children .
► To work for the adancement of communities particularly women and children through community development and social mobilization initiatives .

Strategy

Saathi’s strategy is to work at all levels of Nepali society - from the government to the grassroots level. At the policy level, Saathi has been involved, in partnership, in drafting key legislation regarding domestic violence and is advocating for the passage of this bill. Saathis also involved in the women’s movement to improve the status of women in Nepal. Recognizing the need to particularly reach the grassroots level in order to achieve its goals, Saathi has established branch offices in the Banke and Bardiya districts of Western Nepal. These Branch offices work towards eliminating violence against women and children and community development and also support women and children victimized by armed conflict. Saathi has recently started working in the area of cross-border trafficking of women and children.

Responding to need

VAW & C is a social problem that affects women and children from all strata of society. In 1997 Saathi conducted pioneering research, ‘Violence Against Women and Girls’, to assess the situation of VAW & C and the different forms of violence that are being faced by women in Nepali society. Another research ‘Psychosocial Impacts of Violence Against Women and Girls with special focus on Rape, Incest and Polygamy’ was conducted to find out the situation of the victims of these crimes. Based on the recommendations of this research, Saathi has adopted a multi-pronged approach to combat VAW & C and various strategies have been designed to campaign against different forms of VAW & C, particularly Domestic Violence.

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