WHR Achievements

1. WHR currently has 225 single women groups in 52 districts with a membership base of over 44,000. These single women (widows) are organized and trained to act as agents of change in their respective communities.
2. WHR played an important role in highlighting the plight of single women (widows) of Nepal at the CEDAW (Commission for the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination Against Women) convention and United Nations Commission of Status of Women (CSW).
3. WHR has been able to incorporate the issue of single women (widows) in the 10th five- year plan of Nepal. This inclusion has meant the allocation of budgets by Government of Nepal, for the empowerment of single women (widows) in 15 districts of Nepal.
4. The inclusion of single women (widows) issues in the Tenth Five Year Plan has helped to promote the issue of single women (widows) at national and international levels.
5. WHR has formed the National Network for Single Women (NSW) which includes the Ministry of Women and 15 other National and International Organizations.
6. WHR has succeeded in changing some discriminatory laws against single women (widows), such as
   • Property of deceased husband which the wife inherits no longer needs to be returned to husband’s family after remarriage.
   • There is no longer the need to reach the age of 35 to inherit deceased husband's property.
   • No male consent is required while acquiring a passport as preciously needed
   • Women no longer require the consent of their adult sons and unmarried daughters to sell or hand over property ownership
7. Aadhar saving credit program of WHR has provided loans to many single women (widows) to start small scale businesses. Many single women (widows) have been able to open small businesses to sustain themselves and their families.
8. Over 400 children of single women (widows) and 25 young single women (widows) have received scholarship support for their education from the Opportunity Fund. Many more applications are being processed.
9. WHR has trained and mobilized over 200 “Shahayogi Saathis (Social Mobilizers), Para legal volunteers and Para counselors in 38 districts.
10. WHR organized the "International Conference on Capacity Building of Single Women (widows) which declared "The Kathmandu Widows Charter "on the basis of human rights instruments like CEDAW, CSW, UN Security Council Resolution 1325 & Beijing Platform of Action. The conference was the initial step towards setting up the platform for the voice of widows to be heard at the international level.
11. WHR is the Secretariat for SANWED South Asian network for Widow's Empowerment in Development (SANWED). SANWED is a new initiative in the South Asia region to uphold widows’ human rights in all aspects of their lives; an end to their poverty and marginalization; and the elimination of all forms of discrimination against them – legal, social, cultural and economic.
12. WHR has managed to raise issues concerning the need for social security schemes for single women at the national level, and this has been reflected in the Directive Principles and Policies of the Interim Constitution 2006.
13. WHR has won many awards from esteemed organizations in and out of Nepal. The latest being the Best Social Entrepreneur Award 2006 in the 4th top 10 boss Awards.
    Awards achieved by WHR:
    • Recognition from “Karma Badri Bikram Smriti Sewa Guthi” on 2008
    • Awarded by Management Association of Nepal (MAN) for Women Manager Recognition on 2006
    • Recognition from “Mahilaka Lagi Manachitra Sanchar Samuha” on 2008
    • Recognition on Second Non Government Organization Conference on 2006
    • The Global Association of Leading Social Entrepreneurs has elected to the Ashoka Fellowship in recognition of creative and entrepreneurial leadership and commitment to make large scale changes in society on 2004
    • Certificate of recognition for the Rehabilitation of displaced single women (Widows) has been selected as a finalist in Nepal Development Market place on 2008
    • Awarded by Rastriya Puraskar Pratisthan on 2008
    • Awarded by Gorakha Samaja Kendra on 2002
    • Awarded by Ministry of Women , Children and Social Development Ministry on 2006
    • Recognition from Nepal Overseas Training Concern organization for organizing first women motor cycle rally
    • Lily Thapa was recognized as great women of 21st century on 2006 from American Biographical Institute on 2006