Discussion on how Women Shelters are saving Lives, creating opportunities & promoting Peace through transformation of Lives, Families & Communities

1. Philosophy of Shelter
Homes for Women
Bandana Rana,
Chair, Global Network of Women Shelters
Chair, Saathi, Nepal.

2. Voices of Survivors of Violence
Who Sought Help of Shelters

4. Some Facts- Globally and Regionally
• Overall, 35% of women worldwide have experienced either physical
and/or sexual intimate partner violence or non-partner sexual
violence.
• Worldwide, almost one third (30%) of all women who have been in
a relationship have experienced physical and/or sexual violence by
their intimate partner. In some regions, 38% of women have
experienced intimate partner violence
• Globally, as many as 38% of all murders of women are committed
by intimate partners;
• Globally, 7% of women have been sexually assaulted by someone
other than a partner
Prevalence and health effects of intimate partner violence and non-partner sexual violence

5. • Across Asia, studies in Japan, Malaysia, the Philippines
and South Korea show that 30 to 40 percent of women
suffer workplace sexual harassment
• Over 60 million girls worldwide are child brides,
married before the age of 18, primarily in South Asia
(31.3 million) and sub- Saharan Africa (14.1million).
Fast facts: statistics on violence against women and girls, UN Women
http://www.endvawnow.org/en/articles/299-fast-facts-statistics-on-violence-against-womenand-girls-.html

6. Scenario in Nepal
• 22 percent of women aged 15 to 49 have experienced
physical violence at least once since age 15 (NDHS, 2011)
• 77 percent of the episodes of violence against women are
reported as being from within the family
• According to study conducted by Saathi in 2010 revealed
that 81 percent of women face domestic violence
• 35 percent women reported, they were forced to have non
consensual sexual activities
• 38 percent women were restricted to participate in social
activities

7. Situation of Most Victims When Faced
by Violence
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Helplessness
Neglected
Low Self Esteem
No Supporting System
Subservient
Identity and dignity at Stake
Stigmatization
Lack of Education and Knowledge
Lack of Access to Immediate Redress and Justice
Lack of Financial Resources

8. The Immediate Needs of Abused
Women
• Family and friends whom she can open her
wounds with trust and confidence
• Safety and Security to be free of fear
• Courage to Confront the abuse
• Immediate Medical treatment
• Knowledge about support and legal
mechanisms to get justice
• Financial Resources

9. Mandate of Women Shelters
• To Fulfill the absence of alternative housing
• To Realize Victim’s Safety and Security
• To Create Feelings of Love and affection
• To Rebuild Lives of Survivors
• To Confiscate the Feeling of Victim
• To Recover the Physical & Mental State

10. Continued...
• To provide a safe and supportive space for women and
children
• Confidentiality and Trust
• Respect and honor the rights of women and children
• Assist women to explore their options and respect their
choices
• Ensures accessibility of all services
• Recognizes and respect differences and diversity between
and amongst women

11. Survivors Come to Shelter Through1.
Police
2.
Government Entities (Women’s Commission, Human
Rights Commission, Women Ministry)
3.
Hospitals
4.
Other Organizations
5.
Self
6.
Word of mouth

12. Basic Services
• Determine the priority of Survivors (Legal& Medical):
The shelter staffs needs to determine the immediate
needs of each survivors such as providing medical in case
of injury, assisting to file case in police, provide assistance
to secure evidence in sexual violence cases specially in
rape case.
• Case Management:
Details of the case will be recorded individually.
Confidentiality is a key concern so each case needs to be
coded properly.

13. • Counseling:
To regain the confidence and start a new life survivor
needs to be counseled frequently or whenever required.
•Formal/Non Formal Education:
Find out appropriate way to continue survivor’s education
where possible. If a survivor is illiterate she should be
equipped with non-formal education if possible
•Extra Curricular Activities:
To forget their past and start a new life, maintain mental
balance and recreation extra-curricular activities needs to
be conducted frequently.

14. • Skill/Vocational Trainings:
To make a survivor independent shelter homes organize
skill/vocational trainings as per need of survivors. This ensures the
possibility of job placement for the survivors after the training by
training institutes.
• Referrals:
In case if the shelter is unable to provide any special or specialized
service in best interest of survivor, survivors should be referred to
other concerned organizations/authorities for required services.

15. •Reintegration:
Assess the family/community for the survivor’s
re-integration. Reintegrate survivors to their
family or a new community. Provide seed money
to help the survivors in their new venture.

16. Impact and Influence of Shelter Homes
Beyond Services
• Strengthens advocacy and awareness through
Evidence and Actual Cases
• Sets Precedence for Litigation on Various Forms of
Violence (e.g. Domestic Violence, Migrant women
Workers Rights in Nepal)
• Helps in Engaging Wider Stakeholders such as;
Media, Police, Government, Lawyers, Medical
Practitioners

17. • Provides information and education about
violence against women to community
members and other service providers
• Work towards achieving equity for women
locally, nationally, and globally

18. Women Shelters
Saving Lives, Creating
Opportunities & Promoting
Peace through
Transformation of Lives, Families &
Communities.

20. Thank You !