By Ghanashyam Niroula | Director
1. Raksha Nepal celebrated the 106th International Women’s Day
On the occasion of the 106th International Women’s Day, the Ministry of Women, Children and Social Welfare had organized a rally on 8 March 2016. Raksha Nepal staff along with the Women Workers Protection Union Members joined the rally. The rally started at 8.00 a.m. from Bhrikuti Mandap, Exhibition Road, in Kathmandu. Many women-led organizations from different parts of Kathmandu had joined on this occasion. The rally continued towards Putali Sadak, Kamaladi and gathered in the Shanti Garden of Ratna Park. More than 1500 women out of which 450 were from Raksha Nepal and Women Protection Union, had joined the rally. The gathering was addressed by different representatives from the Ministry, Women Commission and other Ministries. The women were carrying different placards and banners, such as
“Planet 50-50 by 2030: Step It Up for Gender Equality”
“Let Us Implement The Constitution In Practice: Ensure Woman’s Rights“
Long Live Women Workers Protection Union
Ensure Women Workers Rights
Ensure Women Workers minimum wages
Ensure Women Workers minimum working hours
Stop Violence against women
The program concluded after 2 hours and the gathering disbursed.
Another program was scheduled in the Tourism Board hall organized by the Student Union. All members of Raksha Nepal and Union joined this program. The Student Union felicitated 16 women drivers, 2 acid attack victim girls with the appreciation certificates. Three marginalized children from Dalit community received education scholarships from this Union on the occasion. All the Raksha Team and members attended this 3 hour long program.
Chairperson of Raksha Nepal Ms Menuka Thapa also addressed the program and stressed the need and responsibility of male members in the society to eliminate all forms of violence against women and girl children. Raksha Nepal has been continuously working since 2004 in the leadership of Ms Thapa to end all forms of sexual violence against women and girls. Ms Menuka further pointed out that males are born by the females and they have also remained in their mothers’ womb for nine months before their birth so they should respect all the females in order to be the true sons.
2. Training of Trainers (ToT) program for Enterprise Development 20-27 March 2016
It is a well known fact that Raksha Nepal has been organizing different income generating skills and training programs for the empowerment of girls and women who have fallen prey to different forms of sexual violence. Raksha Nepal has also been supporting women and girls through co-operative to start their own businesses after completing the training programs.
In this context, Raksha Nepal conducted training of trainers program from 20 to 27th of March 2016 in order to provide enterprise development knowledge for the women who are group members of Raksha Nepal. The main aim of the training program was to develop the women staffs of Raksha Nepal as enterprise development trainers in future. In the ToT program Ms Vaguri Prameela from Sampark India and Mr Bishnu Bdr. Khatri from ISAS Kathmandu were in the role of Lead trainer and Co-trainer respectively. Similarly, the Program Coordinator of Rehabilitation and Empowerment of Nepali women project was the focal point/ coordinator of the training program. The program was organized with the financial support of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime Vienna.
A week long training program was divided into two sessions. In the first session, 14 women staffs of Raksha Nepal and the 3 volunteers of ISAS were trained as trainers in the areas of enterprise development. Similarly, in the second session of the program, 30 women participants who are involved in Rakshya Shree Saving and Credit Cooperative were trained in the areas relating to enterprise development.
In the first session, the different issues such as: concepts and types of business, elements of business, business idea generation, gender and formation of business, marketing, book keeping, cost and price, business risk analysis and business plan were instructed by the lead trainer and co-trainer to the participants of ToT.
The second session of the training program started from 25 of March. In this program the trained trainers instructed the 30 women participants about the enterprise development and how to start a new business. The participants were given idea regarding to different topics such as: concepts and types of business, elements of business, business idea generation, concept of gender and formation of business, marketing, book keeping, cost and price, business risk analysis and business plan. Finally the program was concluded by the chairperson of Raksha Nepal Ms Menuka Thapa on 27 March 2016 at 4 PM.
Chairperson of Raksha Nepal Ms Menuka Thapa distributed certificates to all the participants of the training program. Ms Thapa on that occasion said she has hoped that the training program will be very useful to establish and run business to the women in future. Ms Thapa also congratulated the lead trainer and co-trainer for their valuable time during the program. Similarly she also expressed her sincere thanks for all the participants who remained patience and sincerely took part in the program.
Enterprise development is itself a very important medium for the economical empowerment of women. Certainly without economical empowerment the different forms of violence against women will never end. Hence, Raksha Nepal wants to make the women strong, able and efficient with the help of economic empowerment programs such as: enterprise development training.
3. A Three month Free Basic Tailoring Training on 13 April 2016
Raksha Nepal has been continuously running different programs for the economic empowerment of sexually exploited women and girls since last 12 years. In order to end different forms of violence against women and girls such as: rape, sexual violence and forced prostitution, Raksha Nepal has organized females in groups and provided different income generating skills and training.
On the auspicious occasion of Nepali New Year 2073, Raksha Nepal initiated a program of economic empowerment by distributing five tailoring machines to the 14 women’s groups on 13 April 2016. The program was formally inaugurated by the superstar of Nepali film industry actress Ms Rekha Thapa.
There were altogether 200 participants comprising women from 14 different groups and the program was organized at the local Youth Club. Inaugurating the program, Ms Rekha Thapa said that women should be self-dependent, employed and laborious, so that they will not fall prey to violence. She further said that she is working in the films which give the message on women empowerment.
Chairperson of Raksha Nepal, Ms Menuka Thapa informed about the aims of Raksha Nepal and said that Raksha Nepal has been working in the field of women empowerment since its establishment. She further said that the organization will also help in future for the economic empowerment of women. She asked the participants of the training to take part actively and seriously, so that they could use their skills practically in the future. She informed that the organization is ready to help other women and increase the assistance further, according to their progress.
Similarly, Ms Menuka Thapa felicitated the head of the 14 women’s groups at the occasion. Certainly, economic empowerment is a tool of ending violence against women and girls and Raksha Nepal wants to end forced prostitution and all forms of violence against women and girls through empowerment programs.
4. International Labor Day (May Day) Program at Raksha Nepal 01.05.2016
It is a well known fact that Raksha Nepal has been continuously working forward for the rights and empowerment of women and girls working in entertainment sectors by enhancing their knowledge and improving their socio- economic status. Raksha Nepal believes that such activities will be beneficial in ending all forms of violence against women.
Our sincere gratitude to Chief District Officer Mr Ram Krishna Subedi, Chief of District Women Development and Children Office Kathmandu Ms Anita Adhikari, DDC Senior Officials, Senior Journalists Suman Kharel, Manager of BFBS Radio BinodDhoj Khadka, Senior Advocate Dinesh Tripathi and Swagat Nepal, Student Leader Ms Nabina Lama, all other distinguished guests and the group members of Raksha Nepal for their precious time and attending in the International Labor Day Program organized by Raksha Nepal on 1st of May 2016.
In the program, Chief District Officer of Kathmandu Mr Ram Krishna Subedi was the chief guest. Altogether 300 women were present in the occasion. Addressing the meeting the Chief District Officer Mr Subedi and Head of the Women Development and Children office Kathmandu Ms Adhikari said that they are always ready to assist Raksha Nepal in protecting the rights of the women workers and also fighting against sexual violence.
During the occasion, Raksha Nepal felicitated five women workers who are very active members of Raksha Nepal for their continuous labour, hard work and struggle that they have endured for their livelihood. Similarly, in the program certificates were also distributed to the trainees who completed their three months long income generating skills training by the chief guest. Thanks for all the distinguished guests for their very precious presence in the program. Finally, our sincere thanks to Mr Kishor Panthi for his valuable support to the sexual violence affected children.
5. A Workshop on Mediation to Resolve Community Conflicts 9 May 10, 2016
Raksha Nepal has been involving staffs frequently in different training, workshop and seminars in order to enhance their capacity. The aim of involving staffs in such programs is to make them able to help in ending sexual violence, rape and forced prostitution from Nepal. In the same context, there was a one day workshop "Mediation to Resolve Community Conflicts" at Hotel Tibet, Lazimpat, Kathmandu on 9 May, 2016 organized by the Institute for Peace and Justice, University of San Diego USA. Raksha Nepal family is very obliged to Dr Dee Aker, Director of Joan B. Kroc Institute for Peace and Justice, University of San Diego USA and Daniel Orth, Program Officer of the same institute for organizing such a wonderful and useful program.
About thirty participants were present on the Workshop. Thanks to all of the participants and the respected International personalities for your cooperation in organizing such wonderful program. We the participants of Raksha family benefitted a lot from the workshop and we are very hopeful that the skills learnt will be useful to our organization Raksha Nepal. The three main objectives of the workshop was to make the participants familiar with the meaning and definition of mediation, skills required for a mediator and to make acquaintance the participants about how to practice mediation in daily life. In the workshop, Dr Dee and Mr Daniel Orth described several interesting examples such as: active listening, asking good question, summarizing and reflecting techniques relating to the skills essential for a good mediator.
Certainly, these sorts of training will enhance the capacity of the staffs of Raksha Nepal to fight against sexual violence. Moreover, mediation is a very useful and appropriate way to resolve conflict within community, family, friends and in every aspects of life and finally will be helpful to build better relationship. At last, we also hope for the future cooperation from the Joan B. Kroc Institute for Peace and justice.
6. Technology to End Human Trafficking 13.05.2016
Raksha Nepal has been working continuously since 12 years to end sexual violence, rape and forced prostitution against children, girls and women. It has also become essential to be conscious about and work along with the latest technology which in turn saves time and also helps to deliver services to the beneficiaries promptly.
There was two and half day long training program in Kalimati Kathmandu on Technology to End Human Trafficking. The program was organized by Effect Hackathon. During the 54 hours, international experts from Google team and Salesforce.com worked collaboratively to solve the technological problems of two non-profit organizations: Raksha Nepal and CWIN.
The international experts from Google and Salesforce worked collaboratively in designing new software programs to solve different technological problems of two organizations. It is hoped that the training program will be useful in reducing paper work and managing files and documents.
Raksha Nepal wants to thank all the international experts from Google and Sales force for their hard work and support. Finally, special thanks to Mr. Casey Allred and Ms Sandy Singh for organizing such a wonderful and useful program. It was really inspiring. Thank you to all the participants, partners and organizer of the program. In future, we also expect for such useful program from Effect Hackathon, Google team and the Sales force.
7. Enterprise Development Training 17.05.2016
In order to benefit the sexually exploited women economically, and make them able to start their new business, an enterprise development program is conducted monthly. In the month of May 2016, Raksha Nepal organized a Training program on entrepreneurial development to the beneficiaries in coordination with Rakshya Shree saving and credit cooperative.
On 14 May, 2016 altogether 17 beneficiaries were present and the training program lasted for two and half hours. The three staffs of Raksha Nepal who had participated in the ToT on March 2016 conducted the training program. During the training programs different topics were discussed with the participants such as: definition of business, advantages of setting up new business, and the ways to become a successful entrepreneur and when, where and how to set up a new business were instructed in a participatory way.
Also, the trainers (staffs of Raksha Nepal) illustrated the enterprise training lessons in an interesting way. Raksha Nepal will also conduct such trainings in future as well.
8. Interaction on ending Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Minors 23.05.2016
Raksha Nepal has been continuously fighting against all forms of sexual violence against women, children and girls since its establishment. The organization has also been doing continuous cooperation and collaboration with government and non-governmental organizations in ending all forms of sexual violence. On 23rd of May 2016, Chairperson of Raksha Nepal Menuka Thapa participated in a workshop organized by Central Children Welfare Committee to share experiences regarding commercial sexual exploitation of minors.
There was a mutual discussion and planning among Raksha Nepal, Ministry of Women, Children & Social Welfare, Central Child Welfare Committee of Legislative Assembly, Central Women Department, Nepal Police and others stakeholder organizations regarding the issues RESCUE & REHABILITATION of MINORS and WOMEN working in Cabin Restaurant, Dance bar, Massage parlor in vulnerable situation.
Along with Raksha Nepal, all the authorities mentioned above concerning women and children sat together and agreed on some
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