Himal Innovative Development and Research Pvt. ltd. HIDR

सन्तानलाई नागरिकता दिलाउन बाबु पहिचान नभएको स्वघोषणा आफैंमा अमर्यादित, महिलाको स्वतन्त्र अस्तित्वको अस्वीकार्य र विभेदको पराकाष्ठा हो । नागरिकता दिँदा आमा र सन्तान दुवैले सजायको तरबार सधैं शिरमाथि नै बोकेर हिँड्नुपर्ने कानुनी व्यवस्थाले गणतन्त्रलाई नै गिज्याइरहेको छ ।

नागरिकतामा संरचनागत विभेद २०८२, मंसिर १९ को ‘कान्तिपुर’ दैनिकमा ‘महिलामाथि नागरिकताको विभेद : राज्यले दिएन न्याय, बाबुछोरीले दिए ज्यान’ शी.....

Human Rights Day reminds us that gender-based violence is not just a social problem; it is a human rights crisis. Every act of violence violates fundamental rights: the right to safety, the right to health, the right to dignity, and the right to live free from discrimination. Today, we reaffirm that violence against women and girls is a violation of international human rights law, and states have binding obligations to prevent it, respond to it, and ensure justice.
This day marks more than the end of a campaign, it’s a call to accountability. Governments, institutions, and communities must commit to long-term action, i.e: strengthening legislation, improving enforcement, expanding survivor services, and ensuring that every sector such as health, justice, education, social services, and others upholds survivors rights. The world cannot continue to treat GBV as inevitable. It is preventable, and prevention begins with political will.
Human rights frameworks like CEDAW, the Declaration on the Elimination of Violence Against Women, and UN human rights mechanisms are crystal clear. The states must provide protection, ensure safe reporting systems, guarantee access to justice, and fund comprehensive services. This is not just charity, it is an obligation. Survivors deserve systems that respect their autonomy and protect their rights.
As the 16 Days campaign concludes, our commitment must continue. Over the next year, we must push for stronger budgets for shelters and mental health care, better accountability systems, national helplines that actually function, and more support for women-led organizations on the frontlines. Ending GBV is not just a once-a-year conversation, it’s a year-round responsibility.
Human Rights Day is a reminder that the fight for safety, dignity, and equality never stops. Today, we renew the promise to protect the rights of women and girls everywhere; in laws, in policies, in budgets, and in daily action. The crisis of GBV is real and there is for it. So with us and join us in this 16 Days of Activism against GBV to end violence against women and girls.

Day 15 of the 16 Days of Activism turns the spotlight on the services that literally keep survivors alive. Shelters, safe houses, psychosocial counseling, medical care, and 24/7 helplines are the backbone of any GBV response system. Yet these systems remain deeply underfunded in many countries. Survivors often face closed doors, long waiting lists, or a complete absence of safe options when trying to escape violence. The gap between need and resources is massive, and it puts lives at risk.
Survivors need comprehensive, trauma-informed support. That means shelters with trained staff who understand confidentiality and safety planning, mental health services integrated into healthcare systems, and accessible hotlines that can respond immediately and link survivors to protection. It also means proper referral pathways between police, health facilities, legal services, and community responders so no survivor has to navigate danger alone.
Mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) is not just an add-on, it’s essential. The psychological impact of violence can be just as damaging as the physical harm. Survivors need psychological first aid, ongoing counselling, and clear pathways to specialized mental health care when needed. Programs around the world show that when counselling is paired with shelter support and case management, survivors experience significantly stronger recovery and long-term safety.
Reintegration too often gets overlooked, but should be considered as a part of healing. Without support for livelihoods, housing, education, or skills training, many survivors face pressure to return to unsafe homes. Reintegration programs; especially those run by women-led organizations break these cycles and help survivors rebuild independence. Yet these are some of the least-funded parts of the GBV response.
The message of Day 15 is simple and urgent; fund the services that protect survivors. From shelters to helplines to counselling centers, these systems cannot run on goodwill alone. Survivors deserve care, dignity, safety, and fully funded, professionally staffed who are accessible to everyone. The crisis of GBV is real and there is for it. So with us and join us in this 16 Days of Activism against GBV to end violence against women and girls.

Himal Innovative Development and Research Pvt. Ltd (HIDR) is a multi-disciplinary organization based in Kathmandu, Nepal. HIDR focuses on providing knowledge formation, policy analysis, and advocacy services related to human rights, feminism, capacity building, and various development issues in Nepal. HIDR has a core objective of promoting gender equality and inclusivity in governmental and non-governmental organizations.

HIDR is looking for a passionate and detail-oriented Program Associate to join our team on-site! If you have a knack for research, data analysis, and writing impactful reports, we’d love to have you in our team.

Key Responsibilities:
· Support the coordination and implementation of assigned HIDR projects and programs.
· Assist in preparing drafts of concept notes, proposals, inception reports, activity reports, progress reports, policy briefs, and other project-related documents.
· Conduct preliminary research on social and legal issues in both English and Nepali, as required.
· Assist in planning and executing project activities.
· Support the development of new project ideas and initiatives.
· Coordinate and maintain communication with partner agencies, organizations, and consultants involved in project activities.
· Contribute to a wide range of research-based policy-relevant outputs, including policy briefs, working papers, presentations or blogs.
· Review and help edit documents prepared by HIDR staff and external partners.
· Assist in organizing workshops, meetings, and dialogues with key stakeholders.
· Represent HIDR in relevant forums and events as assigned.
· Perform any other duties or tasks assigned by the supervisor or as required by the organization.

Flexibility
To deliver services effectively, a degree of flexibility may be required in the duties performed in order to meet the exigencies of service. Job roles may also naturally develop over time, and ongoing changes to a role will be discussed between line managers and their staff, with the job description updated as and when appropriate.

Required Qualifications and Experience:
Education
- Bachelor’s degree in Law, social science, or any other relevant subject.

Professional Experience
- One year of demonstrated working experience in a similar capacity and role, along with management skills.
- Having good coordination and communication skills.
- Experience in report writing and documentation.
- Self-motivated, goal-orientated, enthusiastic, and having a spirit of activism.
- Working experience with a diverse team, coalition, and network
- Able to work independently as well as in a team.

The qualified interested candidates are requested to submit their updated CV along with an application letter mentioning the expected salary to [email protected] by 19 December 2025 Only the selected candidates will be contacted for the assessment process.

Location: On-site at HIDR Office, Buddhanagar

On Day 14 of the 16 Days of Activism, we focus on something powerful and often overlooked, i.e: the role of men and boys in ending gender based violence. Real change happens when the people who benefit from unequal systems choose to challenge them. When men step forward as allies, not to take the spotlight but to support survivors and follow women-led movements, the impact is real and lasting.

Healthy masculinity is at the heart of this. It means treating others with respect, rejecting harmful stereotypes and understanding that strength is shown through empathy and accountability. Many programs around the world show that when boys and young men are given safe spaces to question harmful norms and learn new skills, their attitudes and behaviours shift. They become more respectful partners, more active bystanders and more willing to intervene when they see violence or discrimination.

Men can make a difference in everyday moments. It can be as simple as calling out a hurtful joke, offering support to someone experiencing abuse, or sharing responsibilities at home. These small choices help undo the norms that make violence seem normal. Being an ally does not mean speaking over survivors. It means listening, learning and using your voice to challenge harmful behaviour among peers and within communities.

We also know this work is not perfect. Sometimes male involvement gets recentred in ways that overshadow women’s leadership or turn allyship into performance. That is why accountability matters. True allyship means staying open to correction, being guided by survivors and feminist groups and always asking whether your actions reduce harm or simply make you look good.

Today is a reminder that ending gender based violence requires everyone. Men and boys can be part of the solution, not by leading the movement but by standing beside it. When they choose respect, empathy and responsibility, they help build homes, schools, workplaces and communities where everyone is safe. That is the world we are fighting for. The crisis of GBV is real and there is for it. So with us and join us in this 16 Days of Activism against GBV to end violence against women and girls.

Public spaces such as our streets, bus stops, market areas and transit should be accessible and safe for everyone. Yet women and girls routinely report fear, verbal harassment, unwanted touching and other forms of abuse that limit their freedom to move, work and learn. Global and regional studies show that fear of harassment forces many women to alter routes, avoid night travel, and reduce participation in public life. In Nepal, civil-society safety audits and country reviews have highlighted creeping insecurity in public transport and the need for gender-sensitive urban design.

Problems are practical and fixable, i.e: poor lighting, isolated or poorly designed bus stops, lack of real time information, and weak complaint channels create opportunities for harassment and discourage reporting. International practice shows clear intervention in this case, gender safety audits, better street lighting, women-friendly transport policy, training for drivers/agents, and rapid response helplines aid in reducing risk and help women to reclaim public space.

Local action is also critical. Community policing, “yatri-maitri” initiatives and municipal design choices (lighting, crossings, active street life) make a measurable difference in women’s real and perceived safety. But infrastructure alone won’t fix it. Accountability, bystander action and accessible reporting are essential so perpetrators are not left unpunished and women feel able to speak up.

From our local government, we need to demand safer transit (safe stops, real-time information, driver training), better lighting and visibility, and clear, accessible complaint pathways with guarantees of follow-up. If our streets and buses aren't safe, our rights aren't safe. Share your experiences, back women-led audits in your ward, and call your municipality to act. The crisis of GBV is real and there is for it. So with us and join us in this 16 Days of Activism against GBV to end violence against women and girls.

Across Nepal, harmful beliefs about “witchcraft” still fuel brutal shaming, forced isolation and physical attacks. Most are often against older, single or otherwise marginalised women. Recent news and NGO reporting show repeated incidents where women were beaten, had their heads shaved, or were forced to eat excrement after being accused of witchcraft; survivors report severe injuries, stigma and little protection from neighbours.

These attacks are not isolated folklore, rather, they are gendered violence rooted in poverty, exclusion and local power structures. Multiple case compilations and local reporting document how shamans or local gatekeepers accuse women after sickness, death or misfortune in a household or village. The accused are instantly stripped of dignity, access to services, and often their safety. Survivors told humanitarian organisations they were dragged from homes, beaten and left fearful to return to public life.

While laws do exist, their enforcement and awareness are weak. Humanitarian groups and local NGOs that support survivors report medical costs, counselling needs, and the urgent need for safe shelters and also urge for stronger police protection, community education to dismantle superstition-driven punishments, and support services for elderly and single women. Formal redress needs to be paired with grassroots prevention.

We must stop blaming the victims and start holding perpetrators, shamans and complicit local leaders to account. Share survivor stories (with consent), demand local protection measures, and push local government and police to prioritize these cases. Silence lets superstition become a weapon. Dignity and legal protection must win. The crisis of GBV is real and there is for it. So with us and join us in this 16 Days of Activism against GBV to end violence against women and girls.

School should be a place of learning, growth and safety, not fear, harassment or violence. Yet, across Nepal, many children face violence, harassment, bullying or gender-based violence in and around schools. Recognizing this, UNESCO recently partnered with communities in multiple municipalities to launch SRGBV prevention programmes that engage students, teachers, parents and local leaders.

In one recent event in Bardiya district, students used drama, poetry and art to speak out against SRGBV. They drew public attention to how harassment, bullying, and discrimination silence young voices and deprive them of safe education. These efforts were vital as studies showed that fear of harassment, bullying and gender-biased behaviour keep many children (especially girls) away from school, or push them to leave early.

We need a community-owned change as a response. There should be teacher-training, gender-sensitive pedagogy, stronger reporting and accountability mechanisms in schools as well as local leadership engagement. These are all necessary to build a safe, inclusive and nurturing learning environment.

Every child deserves the right to learn, grow, and express themselves without fear of violence or discrimination. We must raise our voices, demand safer schools, and support policies because safe education is a cornerstone of dignity, equality and justice. The crisis of GBV is real and there is for it. So with us and join us in this 16 Days of Activism against GBV to end violence against women and girls.

Despite strong laws against it, Nepal remains among the countries with the highest rates of child and early marriage. According to a 2024 study by Nepal Health Research Council (NHRC) and UNICEF, there are about 5 million adolescents in Nepal who have experienced child marriage, of which 1.3 million were married before age 15. The report reveals that in many cases child marriage is deeply rooted in poverty, limited access to education, patriarchal norms, and marginalisation of certain ethnic and caste groups, all of which restrict girls’ choices and futures.

The consequences are devastating. Young girls who marry early often drop out of school and are exposed to many health risks. Child marriages also contribute significantly to teenage pregnancies, maternal health complications, newborn deaths and mental-health burden. A recent national‐level report even ties persistently high maternal and newborn mortality to the continuation of child and early marriages across provinces.

Beyond statistics, these are lives and dreams lost. Early marriage robs children of their childhood, education, agency, and often puts them at risk of violence, exploitation, and poverty. It undermines not only individual futures but also communities progress and the nation’s commitment to equality and human rights.

We cannot wait. What we need is real enforcement, community awareness, access to education, and empowered adolescents (especially girls) who can claim their rights. Let’s stand together for every child’s right to choose their future. Share, speak out, raise awareness. The crisis of GBV is real and there is for it. So with us and join us in this 16 Days of Activism against GBV to end violence against women and girls.

Women and girls with disabilities in Nepal face alarmingly high levels of gender-based violence and particular barriers to getting help. A recent national study found that about 35.3% of women and girls living with disabilities reported having experienced violence at least once in their lifetime, with higher odds in some provinces which is clear evidence that disability significantly increases GBV risk. (PMC)

Survivors often cannot access vital services. One-Stop Crisis Management Centres (OCMCs), hospitals and police posts frequently lack physical accessibility, private accessible spaces for exams or counselling, and communication support such as sign-language interpreters, easy-read materials or Braille. All of which prevent timely reporting and care. Reviews of OCMC scale-up and recent civil-society monitoring note persistent gaps between policy and on-the-ground accessibility.

Civil society and specialist organisations are filling some gaps but say more is needed. Groups led by women with disabilities (for example, NDWA’s Action for Justice initiative) are directly supporting survivors and pushing for accessible justice, while UN agencies and GBV programmes are increasingly urging disability-inclusive protocols, staff training and data disaggregation.

What we must demand now is to make all GBV services physically and communication-accessible (ramps, private accessible rooms, interpreters, easy-read forms, helplines that can communicate), train health, police and legal aid staff in disability-inclusive, trauma-informed GBV response, and routinely disaggregate GBV data by disability so policy and funding follow the need.

These concrete steps are supported by Nepal’s recent research and program reviews and they will save lives. The crisis of GBV is real and there is for it. So with us and join us in this 16 Days of Activism against GBV to end violence against women and girls.

Economic abuse is one of the most overlooked yet damaging realities for women in Nepal. Many women are denied access to the income they earn, prevented from working, or forced into debt they never consented to. Control of remittances, restricted access to savings, and unauthorized loans taken in women’s names keep them dependent and financially trapped with very few legal or financial safeguards to protect them.

These individual experiences are rooted in broader economic injustice. With only around 27% of Nepali women in the labour force, and nearly 90% of them stuck in informal, low-paid work, women have limited opportunities to build economic independence. Even when women run small businesses, many say they lack control over profits, and wage discrimination, unsafe work, and lack of contracts remain everyday barriers.

Unpaid care work deepens this inequality. Women shoulder nearly 85% of all unpaid household and care responsibilities in Nepal which amounts to over 29 million hours each day. This heavy workload restricts their ability to enter stable jobs, pursue education, or grow enterprises. Many women describe the double burden of working outside while still being expected to manage the entire household alone.

While Nepal has made progress through entrepreneurship programs, skills training, and care-economy pilots, critical gaps remain. Economic abuse is not consistently recognized or measured, enforcement of fair pay is weak, and public investment in childcare and care infrastructure is still too limited to ease women’s time burdens.

Addressing economic abuse, unfair pay, and unpaid care work is not just a women’s issue, it is a national economic priority. Nepal’s future depends on ensuring every woman has real financial autonomy, safe work, and the freedom to make decisions over her own life and labour. The crisis of GBV is real and there is for it. So with us and join us in this 16 Days of Activism against GBV to end violence against women and girls.

Despite legal protections, caste‑based discrimination remains deeply embedded in Nepalese societies. For Dalit women, it compounds existing gender‑based violence and exclusion. The 2024 report by Amnesty International, “No One Cares: Descent‑Based Discrimination against Dalits in Nepal” describes how Dalits, especially Dalit women and girls, continue to face untouchability, segregation, and systemic bias in every sphere of life, including access to justice, basic services, and dignity. Only a handful (30-43) of caste‑discrimination cases are registered by police each year, reinforcing distrust, impunity, and social silence.

For many Dalit women, violence is not only about caste, it's also about gender, class, marital status, disability, and other factors that make the situation far worse. Research in Nepal shows that married Dalit women are particularly subject to domestic violence, often inflicted by husbands or in-laws, involving physical, psychological or sexual abuse, unwanted pregnancies, deprivation of basic needs, and denial of autonomy. Especially in contexts of alcoholism, patriarchal norms and economic marginalisation (Khatri, S.K. 2021).

Additionally, disabled women and women with overlapping marginalised identities face even higher rates of lifetime violence. A 2021 national‑level study found that 35.3% of women with disabilities in Nepal have experienced violence, with emotional/psychological abuse being most common. Even efforts to improve political representation don’t always solve systemic inequality. While quotas have increased women’s presence in local governments, a 2024–2025 study on Feminist Dalit Organization (FEDO) and allied research on Dalit women’s participation finds that caste structures, social stigma, lack of resources and limited decision-making power still prevent many Dalit women from exercising real agency.

Intersectionality is the overlapping of castes, gender, disability, class, and other identities. It defines who faces violence, who gets neglected, who is excluded from justice, and who remains invisible. The crisis of GBV is real and there is for it. So with us and join us in this 16 Days of Activism against GBV to end violence against women and girls. We must make the invisible visible.