Achham, March 11, 2025 – Saathi, in collaboration with Mangalsen Municipality under the GBVPR-II initiative, convened an advocacy meeting on March 11, 2025, in Achham. The meeting brought together key stakeholders working on gender-based violence (GBV) prevention and life skills development. The primary objective was to discuss the operation and management of the Women’s Safe House, resource mobilization, and collaborative strategies for addressing GBV cases effectively.
The event emphasized the importance of collective action in tackling GBV through strategic planning, resource allocation, and the effective operation of the Safe House.
Key Highlights of the Meeting:
The program was facilitated by Manju Mahat, Chief of the Women Development Section, and was chaired by Padam Bahadur Bohora, Mayor of Mangalsen Municipality. Lalit Bahadur Kunwar, Chief of the District Coordination Committee (DCC), attended as the chief guest. Other distinguished attendees included:
- Danmati Bam Shahi, Vice-Chair of DCC
- Sangita Sodari, Deputy Mayor
- Shiv Prasad Lamsal, Chief District Officer (CDO)
- Ishwori Prasad Lamsal, Deputy Superintendent of Police
- Ward Chairs
- Representatives from Government and Non-Government Organizations (NGOs)
- UNFPA District Coordinator
- OCMC Focal Person and media representatives
Palita Thapa, Program Manager, provided an overview of the event’s objectives and highlighted the ongoing support for the Safe House and GBV survivors. She underscored the growing challenges in addressing GBV due to its evolving forms and the lack of adequate infrastructure, services, and mechanisms to support survivors effectively. She stressed the need for:
- Immediate access to healthcare, including mental health support
- Swift responses to GBV cases
- Economic empowerment for survivors through income-generation programs
- Effective reintegration strategies for survivors
Lalita Rawal, Psychosocial Counsellor of safe house presented an overview of the operational and management status of the Safe House, highlighting challenges and areas needing improvement with financial and programatic update in relation to social audit.
Discussions and Key Issues rose:
- Ensuring the safety and confidentiality of the Survivors
- The need for comprehensive sexuality education for adolescents
- Addressing the mental health needs of GBV survivors
- Expanding outreach efforts to remote communities for awareness and sensitization
- Strengthening local government responsiveness in providing sensitive and effective GBV services
- Addressing the rising cases of conversion disorder among adolescent girls, with 70% of affected girls linked to GBV trauma
- Integrating GBV and mental health topics into school curriculums
- Enhancing services for survivors of rape
- Developing sustainable strategies for managing survivors with mental health conditions and their reintegration
Actionable Commitments & Next Steps
Danmati Bam Shahi, Vice-Chair of DCC stressed on the need of multi sectoral services to GBV survivors in collaboration with both Government and Non Government organizations.
Sangita Sodari, Deputy Mayor, reaffirmed that GBV is a highly sensitive and serious concern that requires urgent and coordinated action.
CDO Shiv Prasad Lamsal outlined four key actions necessary for GBV prevention and response:
- Awareness campaigns to educate communities
- Capacity building for human resources working in GBV response
- Resource mobilization to strengthen GBV support systems
- Policy development for long-term sustainability
In response to the discussions, the Mayor and the Chairperson of the District Coordination Committee committed to holding a follow-up meeting to explore the establishment of a single, well-equipped Safe House in Achham. This integrated facility would provide comprehensive services for GBV survivors, with joint ownership and support from all municipalities in the district.
The meeting reinforced the importance of multi-sectoral collaboration and shared responsibility in addressing GBV, ensuring survivors receive the protection, care, and empowerment they need.
