Saathi, along with its five consortium partners, has been implementing “Addressing Social Barriers That Hamper the Advancement of Women” (ASTHA) program since January 2016.
The program envisions a violence free society for women and girls to exercise their rights and lead a dignified life and was initially implemented in eight districts (Bajura, Kanchanpur, Dang, Kapilbastu, Siraha, Mahottari, Sindhupalchok and Dolakha). In the second year, the program turned its focus to post-earthquake support in Sindupalchowk and Dolakha.
At the community level, the program is focused on raising awareness of Gender Based Violence (GBV), meanwhile building the accountability and sensitivity of community members and related stakeholders. Thus, the program coordinates with government and non government stakeholders at the national and local level. Effective legal implementation of anti-GBV law and ensuring access to justice for GBV victims are the core areas of this program
Specific issues that ASTHA focuses on when working in communities include:
- Alcohol
- Chaupadi
- Child Marriage
- Dowry
- School intervention
- Support in GBV case handling and enhancing access to Justice.
- Coordination and collaboration with the police
- Learning and impact from men’s groups’ and working with male perpetrators.
A major tool of this program that has shown significant efficacy has been engaging men and boys to aid in changing community mindsets and transforming perpetrators into peer educators and change agents. The program has also adopted strategic interventions such as community level awareness and advocacy campaigns, dialogue with service providers, sensitizing stakeholders, interacting with national and local level authorities, anti alcohol campaigns, etc.
Methodology of ASTHA
Drafting law and provisions related to GBV, domestic violence alcohol, etc. at the local level and support in implementation and monitoring;
Collaborate in drafting local laws and good governance through coordination and mediation between local and national level governments;
Initiation and implementation of immediate relief packages and shelter support to GBV victims from national and local government;
Holding elected officials accountable through gender sensitive capacity building;
Lobbying and facilitating government at the local level for a gender responsive budget;
Institutionalizing achievements of the projects;
Initiating gender mainstreaming policies at local level;
Lobbying with government for GBV funding.
Achievements
Sustained coordination with local authorities and elected officials;
Substantial engagement of men and boys and school students; an efficient method for changing mindsets at all levels against GBV;
Male silence against GBV has been broken and more and more men have started advocating against GBV;
Establishment of GBV fund for GBV survivors;
Effective mobilization of students for practical implementation of the policies and action plans;
Majority of newly elected representatives (including males) were part of ASTHA program community groups and were actively engaged in the GBV campaigns. Hence their leadership is envisaged to continue with their new role as elected representatives;
Ownership by local level very much demonstrated throughout the program VDCs and Districts;
Strong movement building against child marriage, chhaupadi, dowry, and alcohol abuse has started in the program districts;
Enabling an environment in which GBV survivors can speak up and access justice;
Significant number of child marriages have been stopped due to active community and students interventions;
Violence is being identified and accepted as major social and political issue due to which access to justice has significantly increased;
Increased sense of accountability felt in government agencies, police, local level offices, women and children offices.