Welcome to Part 1 of our January 2025 Inspirational Interview with Suvekchya Rana, Executive Director of Saathi in Nepal.
Suvekchya Rana serves as the Executive Director at Saathi, a leading nonprofit organisation in Nepal dedicated to addressing gender-based violence and empowering women. She began as a supervisor at one of Saathi’s shelter homes for children who have experienced violence. This experience was transformative, shaping her behaviour, thoughts, and understanding of the harsh realities faced by survivors of violence. While her journey has been filled with challenges, it has been deeply rewarding for her to save lives and work toward transforming society into a place with violence-free homes and communities.
Part two of Suvekchya’s interview will be published 6 January 2025.
All photos are courtesy of Saathi.
1. How and why did you join the movement to end violence against women (VAW)?
My decision to join this movement was driven by a deep conviction that every girl and woman deserves a life free from violence and equal opportunities to realise their dreams in dignity and respect. The alarming prevalence of child marriage, along with rampant sexual and gender-based violence in Nepal, compelled me to take a stand. These issues are not just statistics; they are the lived realities of countless women and girls who face systemic barriers to safety, security, and empowerment.
Through my work, I have dedicated myself to advocating for the rights of survivors and empowering them to rebuild their lives. My journey has been both challenging and inspiring, rooted in the belief that sustainable societal change begins with addressing gender inequality and creating violence-free environments for all.
2. Could you tell us about Saathi’s approach to combatting VAW in Nepal and how this has developed since the organisation was founded in 1992?
Saathi, established in 1992, pioneered efforts to address domestic violence in Nepal, then deemed a private matter without legal repercussions. Its advocacy led to the landmark Domestic Violence Act of 2008, criminalising such violence and providing a justice framework. Over the years, Saathi expanded its focus to protect survivors, prevent gender-based violence (GBV), and drive systemic change. It leads national networks like Men Engage Alliance Nepal and contributes to regional and global platforms, including the Asian Network of Women’s Shelters.
Saathi integrates intersectional and standpoint feminism in its shelter operations and interventions, prioritising marginalised voices. Employing a socio-ecological model, Saathi targets behaviour change, policy advocacy, and community mobilisation. Collaborating with Nepal’s federal, provincial, and local governments, Saathi strengthens gender mainstreaming through training and sensitisation. It also partners with civil society organisations, enhancing governance and promoting gender inclusion while transforming norms by engaging men and boys to achieve gender equality.
3. Could you give us an overview of the services, programmes, and initiatives that Saathi runs to tackle VAW in Nepal?
Saathi operates four women’s shelters that provide safe accommodation, first aid, trauma healing, health services, and legal aid to survivors of gender-based and sexual violence. Survivors receive skilling, upskilling, and reskilling opportunities to achieve economic independence. Saathi also offers referral services, reintegration support, and follow-up care, ensuring survivors’ sustainable recovery. For those pursuing entrepreneurship, Saathi provides start-up support for micro-enterprises. In partnership with the All Nepal Football Association, Saathi mobilises national football players to raise awareness about violence through their influence and organises football tournaments as platforms for sensitising spectators about GBV.
Saathi extends its efforts beyond shelters by mobilising communities, engaging men and boys, and collaborating with security agencies and stakeholders. It strategically partners with mainstream and social media to amplify awareness campaigns and challenge harmful gender norms, fostering a society free from violence against women and girls.
4. Part of Saathi’s groundbreaking work is opening the first Women Shelter in Nepal in 1995. Could you tell us about how Saathi started the women’s shelter and the services for victims that are provided by the shelter?
When Saathi began sensitising women and girls about violence, we started receiving calls, even late at night, from women facing abuse, often pleading for rescue. At the time, there were no policies or mechanisms for emergency response, which highlighted the urgent need for a shelter. Recognising this gap, Saathi established Nepal’s first women’s shelter in 1995, developing its own Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) with support from development partners. These SOPs were later recognised with an award from the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The shelter provides survivors with a safe and secure environment, offering psychosocial counselling, legal aid, health services, and skill enhancement programs to support recovery and independence. Although the official mandate is to host survivors for six months, many cases require two to five years of support due to their complexity. This poses significant resource challenges, underscoring the need for long-term commitments and sustainable funding.
5. What are some of the particular challenges that Saathi has faced and continues to face when tackling VAW in Nepal?
Saathi faces different challenges in addressing violence against women (VAW) in Nepal, rooted in deeply ingrained patriarchal societal norms and male-dominated government and administrative structures. These barriers make it difficult for survivors to rebuild their lives and access justice.
Economic dependence on husbands further discourages women from reporting cases, compounded by limited economic opportunities, wage disparities, workplace harassment, and violence. Girls are often deprived of quality education and are subjected to early marriages, perpetuating cycles of disempowerment.
The legal system remains insufficiently gender-sensitive, often failing to provide timely and fair justice to survivors. Social stigma and a pervasive culture of victim-blaming create additional hurdles, discouraging survivors from seeking support or speaking out.
Raising funds for shelter operations is another major challenge. Donors are often reluctant to commit due to the long-term nature of shelter support and the high investment required per survivor. This creates resource constraints in providing essential services.
