WHERE WE WORK > NEPAL

Protecting and empowering girls and women at-risk in Nepal  

Since 2018, GSIF works in Nepal to advocate for systemic change to address human trafficking, prevent unsafe migration and reduce violence and exploitation on women and girls. We started initially delivering emergency relief after natural disasters such as the catastrophic earthquake which struck the country in 2015, to respond to the most isolated local communities’ basic needs by providing health and water, and continued to contribute to improve the social and economic conditions of the communities recovering from poverty and social injustice. Our programs in Nepal are now focused on empowering women, girls and children living under poverty, at-risk of human trafficking and unsafe migration, vulnerable to various forms of violence and discrimination. 

Activities

• Anti-Human Trafficking programs – Kathmandu and Kaski districts  The programs are aimed at protecting and rehabilitating children and young women involved in the entertainment sector in Kathmandu and Pokhara (like Dohori – duet folk songs, dance bar, restaurant and bar, cabin restaurants), from human trafficking, sexual abuse and exploitation, and at empowering them through socio-economic support, providing life skills and vocational training to access an alternative employment. Recently, two safe homes in Kaski and Kathmandu were set up to offer comprehensives services in shelter to about 30 young women and adolescent girls survivor. Community awareness, youth campaign and advocacy initiatives in cooperation with government and other NGOs contributed in making communities sensitive to trafficking and safer to at-risk population as well as survivors. Each year since 2018, GSIF has reached at least 250 young women and girls working in the adult entertainment sector in Nepal thanks to these programs. 
• Cross-border trafficking project – Rupandehi district 
  The project, launched in 2019 at Bhagwanpur in the border area Nepal-India, where no other organization has been working, supports the trafficking survivors in their reintegration and rehabilitation once they have been repatriated from India to Nepal. A safe home in Rupandehi, located at 5 km from the nearest border, provides emergency shelter and comprehensive services to women and girls survivors of trafficking, and those who are at risk. To promote community based surveillance mechanism to prevent human trafficking, the project formed protection committees in the bordering communities and mobilized more than 250 members. The project has been organizing and participating interaction programs with cross-border stakeholders of Nepal and India to make the rescue, repatriation and rehabilitation of survivors and at-risk girls and women effective and prompt.
• Child protection program -The Opportunity Village Nepal’s Child Care Home – Pokhara  
  The Child Care Home, which has been running since 19 years, offers a safe place to about 25 girl children survivors of violence, exploitation and child labour, or at risk of abuse with complex family situations and help them reintegrate in the society. They receive shelter care, education, training and counselling to build a better future for themselves as well as for their families to live a dignified life. The girls can go through and overcome the trauma of what they experienced, while at the same time conducting a normal lifestyle, going to school and receiving vocational training in different areas so that once they leave the home, they have developed skills and capacities helping them find a decent job and being socially and economically independent.  

PROJECTS LOCATIONS

Kathmandu, Bhagwanpur, Pokhara  

HIGHLIGHTS

3

Projects

2,550

Beneficiaries

–

Local staff

AREAS OF INTERVENTION

Girls and Women's Empowerment

Human Rights

Emergency Relief