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. Today Saathi not only work for the upliftment of the women in Nepal but also to inform men as it has realized that women cannot be empowered till the Men of her family doesnot treat her with equal respect and dignity. Till they both share equal powers and understand their equal roles in taking a decision whether in private or public sphere.
20 Years and moving ahead
20 years have passed ever since we pioneered taking a step towards eliminating violence and injustice against women and children in Nepal. When we closely go through the memoirs of this journey it is reflected in the smiles of the faces of the women, those precious lives that have changed, that have changed the perspectives our society persue to see women influenced predominantly by biased patriarchal hooliganism from our committed and consistent efforts. We have gone deeper into the community, in the lives of our people, those innocent faces who asked for nothing but a say that we to have the rights to enjoy our freedom. During all these years we have realized that new conditions of life become more intricate and challenging for the marginalized but does exists in it own colours even in the effluent genres of our society. Gender bias and Violence against women has become a core of the society which we all some how have come across still silent and numb. So, we continue to move ahead with them to work for justice and peace.We have been able to directly reach and make a difference in the lives of more than 20,000 women and children, including men sensitizing and making them know that its you and your women together equally.
This years we are celebrating those lives that we touched, each smile that we relish and would light the torch to ensure that our vission may replicate through you and everyone who held themselves responsible for the very society we live in and the mother we love and the daughter who will question us tomorrow what life we have gifted her.
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 works at all levels of our 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. Saathi also involved in the women’s movement to improve the status of women in Nepal.
Responding to need
VAW & C is a social problem that affects women and children from all strata of society. In 1997 Saathi conducted a 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 the 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 with respect to Gender Based Violence (GBV).
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.
