Who we are
“No discrimination on the basis of marital status”. Women for Human Rights, single women group (WHR), established in 1994, is a Non-Governmental Organization dedicated to create an active network of single women across the nation, regional and international level. WHR envisages to create a just an equitable society whereupon the lives of single women are strengthened and empowered. WHR defines “Widows” as “Single Women” through a national declaration to use the word ‘Single Women’, instead of widows. The change in the terminology has been in effect since the word ‘widow’ in the Nepali society is viewed with disdain, inducing humiliation and agony.
Women in Nepal are discriminated in various aspects of everyday life, right from cultural traditions to laws and policies. The situation of widows is even worse with pervasive marginalization from society. Single women are identified as inauspicious, symbol of ill women and the cause of the death of their husbands. Furthermore, there are certain religious and traditional practices which harm physical health and mental state, further aggravating the sufferings of single women and lowering their status in the society. WHR actively works to address the rights of single women in Nepal by working exclusively with and for single women.
How WHR Started?
WHR initially focused on encouraging single women to step outside the confines of their home and share their sorrow, fears and frustration. These sharing opportunities were provided at monthly forums. Experts in various development fields were invited to share their experiences and knowledge with the group at the monthly forums. Single women found solace in sharing stories with others who have had similar experiences. Realizing that they are not alone in their endeavors, single women worked together to boost their confidence and started living their lives. The group met informally for 2 years in a small room to share their pain and grief at the loss of their husbands, before registering WHR as a formal organization in 1994. Today, it works in 73 districts and 1050 VDCs, with over 84,000 single women members.
Vision
Non-discriminatory and equitable society.
Mission
Single women empowered economically, politically, socially and culturally to live dignified lives enjoying values of human rights.
Goal
A just society where single women are respected and can live with dignity and sufficient legal provisions are prepared to protect single women’s political, social, cultural and economic rights.
Objectives
- To raise the social and economic status of Nepalese single women and their families.
- To mainstream the rights of single women in development, humanitarian and peace building initiatives.
- To lobby and advocate for meaningful participation of single women at decision making levels in the social, economic and political spheres.
- To enhance the capacity of single women to boost their confidence and self-esteem so that they can be their own “Agents of Change”.
WHR Target Group
WHR works with single women; widows, wives of missing husbands, divorcees, unmarried women of 35 years of age or women separated but not divorced from their husbands. WHR has adopted unique methods to give voice to single women. It brings together widows of all categories including single women from all sides of the conflict on a levelled platform regardless of their caste, ethnic group or political background.
Our Work
Our work involves the holistic empowerment of single women and their dependents by viewing issues of single women from the perspective of individual and society. WHR has been working in the area of socio-cultural, economic, legal and political empowerment of single women. WHR has not just identified the needs and priorities of single women and their children, but also significantly raised the standard of living of these families. WHR has involved all its stakeholders in its programs – media, religious leaders, government officers, I/NGOs and policy makers to sensitize everyone about the issues and plights of single women and work integratedly for the empowerment of widows.