GENDER EQUALITY AND SOCIAL INCLUSION AND EMPOWERMENT
There is unequal gender position among men and women in Karnali. Thus, it is very important to create an environment to ensure gender equality through various plans, strategy and programs. Women are socially excluded in all areas. Nowadays, it is being universal that, empowerment is an important tool to promote gender equality. Whereas, making policy and its implementation guarantees a process of social inclusion. Social, political, educational and economical barriers must reduce to empower women. Without eliminating all kinds of discrimination against women cannot set a path towards gender equality. Practicing and implementing GESI would help to increase meaningful participation of women in every sphere of the country. Women of Karnali are the most marginalized and vulnerable women in the context of Nepal. They are backward and excluded in all forms of facilities, rights and infrastructures. Girls and women are facing multiple forms of violence and discriminations. Chhaupadi, child marriages, racial discrimination against gender and caste are highly existing in those areas. Women of Karnali have less access to education, employment, health care facilities. In Karnali Province, 42% of women have no education. Women’s position in decision making and leadership position is very less.

OUR MOVES
GESI and Women Empowerment is a key area of expertise of WWS. WWS has been using ACAP (Accessibility, Communication, Attitude and Participation) as key tool to mainstream GESI. In two decades, WWS identified many interesting facts and figures useful for women empowerment. To support women, for all of our programs we have focused to engage grass root level women, single women, persons with disabilities those suffering from intersections of discrimination. Since its establishment WWS had implemented a dozen of projects with the aim to promote gender equality and social inclusion and to empower them. Activities included literacy classes; training on rights, services, and inclusive development, vocation skills and entrepreneurship development, and group management and leadership development; radio program on accountability and good governance, civic education to marginalized and disadvantage community; Interaction with faith based and traditional healer on right and entitlements of marginalized community, etc were conducted. These project aims to empower women to raise voice against any kind of discrimination. Women are using their voice to fight against gender inequality and social exclusion.

Gender Justice for Bright Future LKM003, Voiceing for Equality and Justice for women in karnali (2015-2017), Empowering Women in Humla and Mugu, Nepal (2013-2015), Civil Society for Inclusion: building up inclusive approaches for women with disabilities in Humla (2012-2014), Social Mobilization (2004-2005, Social Mobilization (1999-2003), Dalit Empowerment Program (2006-2007), Gender and Development Strategy (1999).