WHR Introduction

Women for Human Rights (WHR), Single Women Group was established in 1994, as a Non Governmental Organization, registered with Kathmandu District Administration Office, Ministry of Women, Children and Social Welfare, Nepal Government and Social Welfare Council.

Since its foundation, WHR has been actively working to address the rights of single women (widows) in Nepal. This organization works exclusively with and for single women (widows) in Nepal as the fate of widows in Nepalese society is far worse than widows in other parts of the world.

WHR has, for more than a decade, made outstanding contributions, fairly not in words but in action. WHR has not just been identifying the needs and priorities of the single women (widows) and their children; furthermore it has significantly raised the standard of living focusing on the fulfillment of basic needs including education.

Our Work

Our work involves the holistic empowerment of single women (widows) and their dependents. It involves viewing the issues of single women (widows) in perspective of the individual as well as society. Since its inception WHR has been working in the area of social, economic, legal and cultural empowerment of single women (widows) .The Strategic Plan (2009-2013) has focused on five majors pillars which are as following:

1. Socio Cultural Empowerment and Mobilization.
   Objectives:
   • A strong advocacy campaign towards cultural discrimination to ensure that the state and government addresses issues and concerns of single women
   • Sufficient awareness against the cultural and traditional barriers against single women amongst diverse actors
2. Economic Empowerment and Mobilization of Single women (widows)
   Objective:
   • Empowerment of single women, groups and networks for active engagement and participation in income generation and livelihoods capacity enhancement
3. Justice, Human Rights and Peace
   Objectives:
   • A strong advocacy campaign and lobbying for appropriate regulatory framework to address human rights issues
   • To enhance the capacity of single women groups and networks in peace building and transitional justice
   • To enhance the capacity of single women (widows) in order that they are their own “agents of change”, and to develop their confidence and self-esteem
4. Local Governance
   Objective:
   • To improve the capacity of single women groups and networks to articulate demands, improve own situation, secure their rights from local bodies and service providers and are able to transform into self-governing institutions to enhance peace and development initiatives
5. Institutional and Organizational Development
   Objective:
   • To enhance the capacity of WHR to address institutional and organizational requirements to accomplish WHR's policy strategy