Nepal Disabled Women Association (NDWA), with the support of Mukti Nepal, successfully conducted the second phase of training for Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) Response Groups (VRG) and Safety and Wellbeing Defenders (SWD) under the IGNITE Project.
The IGNITE Project is supported by the United Nations Trust Fund (UNTF), with NDWA and Mukti Nepal serving as implementing partners and CBM Nepal Country Office providing technical support.
The training was organized for participants from Saptari, Rautahat, and Sarlahi districts through three separate two-day sessions. The training was facilitated by Ms. Meena Paudel, Chairperson of NDWA, with support from Ms. Dev Kumari Mahara, Chairperson of Mukti Nepal.
During the two-day sessions, participants enhanced their knowledge and understanding of disability, disability rights, gender-based violence (GBV), and mechanisms for preventing and reporting violence. They were also introduced to the Justice Our Right Campaign (JORC) and explored the important roles they can play in advancing the campaign within their communities.
The training focused on strengthening participants’ understanding of disability inclusion, gender-based violence, and intersectionality. Participants gained practical skills to identify cases of GBV within their communities and respond effectively, contributing to safer and more inclusive environments for women and girls, including those with disabilities.
Throughout the sessions, participants shared experiences of various forms of violence faced by women and girls in their daily lives. Discussions highlighted how socio-cultural norms, disability, and other intersecting factors often place women and girls at heightened risk of violence and discrimination. Several participants who had prior experience managing GBV cases at the community level shared insights into local case management practices, providing valuable learning opportunities for others.
Many participants, particularly women with disabilities, noted that it was their first time participating in a program specifically centered on the rights, experiences, and needs of women and girls with disabilities. NDWA representatives emphasized that the training aims not only to build knowledge and skills but also to transform community perceptions and strengthen local support systems.
By empowering grassroots groups and district-level defenders, the IGNITE Project seeks to promote a more inclusive, responsive, and rights-based approach to preventing and addressing violence against women and girls with disabilities.
Reflecting on the significance of the initiative, one participant shared, “People with disabilities and gender minorities are some of the most vulnerable groups in our communities. We have different needs and should be approached differently. This project has made an attempt to address those needs in an equitable way. I am very glad to be a part of this program.”
The training marks an important step toward strengthening community-based responses to gender-based violence and ensuring that women and girls with disabilities are recognized, protected, and empowered as equal members of society.