ActionAid International Nepal: Advocating for gender equality and economic justice

Structural and systemic biases rooted in gender, caste, and class perpetuate injustice, disproportionately affecting women, informal workers, and LGBTIQA+ individuals. “In Nepal, around 80 percent of the workforce is in the informal sector, where women earn up to 40 percent less than men, while also bearing the dual burden of unpaid care work and labor exploitation. Without addressing these injustices, true gender equality and economic justice will remain unattainable,” said Sujeeta Mathema, Executive Director of ActionAid International Nepal (AAIN).

Globally, one in four women experience physical or sexual violence, affecting 736m individuals. In Nepal, 23 percent of women aged 15–49 have faced physical violence, and 7 percent have experienced sexual violence, according to the 2022 National Health Survey. During the fiscal year 2022–2023, 20,753 complaints related to violence against women and girls were filed. Between 2016 and 2023, Nepal registered 16,960 rape cases, including 2,507 in 2023/24—an average of seven rapes per day. These figures underscore the urgent need for systemic reforms to address gender-based violence. However, many cases remain unreported, leaving women, girls, and LGBTIQA+ individuals vulnerable. The UN Women’s ‘Gender Snapshot 2023’ warns that achieving gender equality at the current pace will take 300 years.  

These statistics challenge common remarks such as, “Things have changed,” “Women are empowered enough to handle the situation,” or “They now have ample access and opportunities.” The data clearly demonstrates that women remain unsafe in both private and public spaces, despite progress in some areas. Gender-based violence, wage inequality, and systemic discrimination persist, proving that true empowerment and safety for women have yet to be fully realized.  

For over 40 years, AAIN has championed gender equality, social justice, and poverty eradication. Focusing on feminist leadership, AAIN empowers women, youth, and informal workers to challenge systemic inequalities. Despite progress in legislation, entrenched patriarchal norms continue to undermine women’s leadership, fueling gender-based violence and exploitation. AAIN promotes collective action, enabling marginalized groups to lead the fight for equality. Its ‘Country Strategy Paper VI’ prioritizes reducing women’s workloads, fostering economic participation, addressing inequalities in the informal sector, and preventing violence against women and girls (VAWG). Through advocacy and social movements, AAIN drives systemic change to promote decent work, economic justice, and women’s empowerment.

Interview with Sujeeta Mathema, Executive Director, AAIN

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What are AAIN’s strengths in fighting against gender inequality? 

Any commitment requires an investment of time, money, energy, skills, capacities, and competencies. When AAIN declares its commitment to fighting all forms of gender inequality, it dedicates these resources with the hope of creating a society where justice prevails for all. Our youth and adolescent groups, activists, women’s groups, farmer collectives, child clubs, supporters, and staff firmly believe in the possibility of a just society and the achievement of gender equality. AAIN regards these individuals and groups as the organization’s true strength.  

We bring extensive experience working with people’s agencies, social movements, and communities living in poverty and exclusion. Our rich history includes impactful initiatives such as the Kamaiya bonded labor liberation movement, Dalit rights advocacy, support for slum and squatter communities’ rights to safe shelter, campaigns for informal workers’ rights, hunger campaigns, land rights movements, the Safe Cities campaign, the Anti-Child Marriage campaign, and the campaign against Chhaupadi. Additionally, we have played a pivotal role in building rural women’s organizations and establishing networks like the Women’s Rights Forum, which contributes to national campaigns for women’s rights.  

Currently, we operate in 19 districts, 30 local bodies, and 112 wards, working directly with women, girls, informal labor groups, and youth organizations. These empowered groups, equipped with skills and awareness, act as agents of change, challenging structural inequalities, unjust power dynamics, and gender-based violence. Grounded in people-led agendas and collective action, we critically engage with governments to advocate for progressive policies, focusing on strengthening local governance structures. Through these efforts, we have supported local governments in creating policies to protect labor rights and establish mechanisms for preventing and responding to gender-based violence (GBV).  

Our commitment extends to rooted campaigns that amplify the voices of marginalized communities through two major initiatives: the Decent Work Campaign and the Climate Justice and Gender Justice Campaign. These initiatives focus on shifting power, localizing decision-making, and ensuring accountability and transparency in governance. Together, we strive to drive systemic change and build a just and equitable society.

How does ActionAid engage with the global ‘16 Days of Activism’, and what is its commitment to gender equality?

ActionAid’s work is centered on women and girls, permeating every aspect of the organization. We believe in challenging, learning, unlearning, implementing, and campaigning for gender justice every day of the year. During the 16 Days of Activism, we amplify our voices further, foster greater solidarity, engage in orientation, unite more deeply, and ensure that unheard voices are finally heard. While activism should extend beyond these 16 days, this period serves as a powerful reminder of the impact we are making and the ongoing efforts required to achieve gender justice in all sectors.

AAIN supports the theme “Towards 30 Years of the Beijing Declaration: UNiTE to End Violence Against Women and Girls”, reaffirming its commitment to gender equality and women’s rights. As a feminist organization, AAIN is collaborating with women’s agencies, women-led organizations, movements, alliances, youth groups, and local partners to mark the 16 Days of Activism at local, national, and global levels. Across 19 districts and 30 local bodies, we unite against gender-based violence in workplaces, homes, and public spaces.

This collaborative effort reinforces our shared commitment to creating safe, equitable environments free from violence and discrimination.

How AAIN is working to end gender inequality and promoting economic justice in Nepal linking with VAW and the way forward?

Economic justice for women is essential to breaking the cycle of gender inequality. For generations, women have faced systemic barriers to wealth, inheritance, and resources. Ensuring equal economic rights for women is fundamental to building a more just society for future generations. At its core, economic justice is a matter of human rights, promoting fairness and equality. By providing women with the same economic opportunities as men, we create a more inclusive and equitable world. Simply put, economic justice for women is crucial for achieving gender equality, economic prosperity, and social stability.  

ActionAid International Nepal (AAIN) combats gender inequality and promotes economic justice by empowering marginalized women, girls, and informal workers. AAIN advocates for fair wages, social protection, and legal recognition in sectors like domestic work, agriculture, and construction. We have facilitated the formation of 43 labor groups, engaging over 2,013 individuals. Women worker activists have successfully filed cases against employers for unpaid wages, exploitation, and abuse in the informal sector. Through collective action and support from local police and government authorities, Rs 11,83,850 in unpaid wages has been recovered.

As we mark the 33rd Global 16 Days of Activism, we honor the informal women workers fighting for equality and workers’ rights. Achieving systemic change is essential to ensuring fair wages, safe working conditions, and basic rights for all women, while addressing exploitation, wage discrimination, and workplace violence. True gender equality requires recognizing the rights of informal workers. Exploitation, wage discrimination, and violence in the workplace are unacceptable and must be confronted. Without recognizing the rights of informal workers, gender equality will remain unattainable.

Today, I urge the government to address the challenges faced by women in the informal sector, ensuring workplaces are free from discrimination and violence. Women and girls must be free from harm for true gender equality to be realized. The conversation on gender and economic justice is incomplete without addressing workforce inequalities. The Beijing Platform for Action (BPfA) underscores the importance of protecting the rights of informal workers. Since 2019, AAIN has led the Decent Work campaign, and we remain committed to this fight—led by informal workers themselves—to secure their rights and achieve these goals.

Recovering wages and mortgaging land

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Durga Tharu, a 55-year-old resident of Ramnagar, Badhaiyatal Rural Municipality-4, exemplifies resilience and leadership. Living with her extended family of eight, her life revolves around hard work and community involvement. While her sons work as masons and her daughters-in-law manage the farm, her husband labors as a manual worker.  

Her leadership came to the forefront when she addressed the issue of unpaid wages for workers building community structures in Badhaiyatal. The contractor had left for Kathmandu without paying Rs 2,38,000 owed to 21 workers, including her sons. Leading a group with the support of a social mobilizer from KMJS, Durga filed complaints with local authorities, bringing attention to the workers’ plight.  

Her advocacy continued in Jan 2023, when a subcontractor sent workers to Dailekh to construct a government hospital. Despite working for a month, the workers returned home unpaid, though they had been provided with food and lodging. She organized a meeting with the contractor at the ward office, where intense negotiations led to a commitment to pay the wages by 16 July 2024. Although the workers received safety gear, they chose not to pursue legal action, trusting the contractor’s promise.  

Tharu’s unwavering determination and leadership in fighting for fair wages and labor protections have made her a pillar of strength in her community. Her efforts demonstrate that one woman’s voice can challenge injustice, safeguard workers’ rights, and promote dignity and fairness for all. Tharu’s story is not just about recovering unpaid wages—it is a testament to standing up for what is right, championing dignity, and exemplifying true leadership in the face of exploitation.

Celebrating our achievements (2019-2024)

• Agency building: Youth group: 67, Women’s group: 135, Women’s farmers group: 116, Labor groups: 43, Adolescent group: 46, Child clubs: 251

• 40,000 people directly through awareness raising on VAWG, existing policies/laws, reporting mechanisms.
• Alternative models: 46 alternative models established to reduce women’s work burden like community childcare center, water tank, grinding mills.
• 3,000 informal laborers were organized and advocating for their rights.
• 179 child marriage stopped in leadership of Adolescent girls. 
• 1,251 cases were facilitated to register for access to justice.
• 7,000 women and girls mobilized to lead action against VAWG.
• 5,855: Service provider aware of referral pathways, OCMC, GESI policy.

Policy work 

• Rs 2,581,000 has been invested by LG for operating a community childcare center.
• GBV Referral guideline and pathways has been endorsed in six LG.

• GBV elimination fund procedure has been approved in six local levels.
• Anti child Marriage strategy approved in two local levels.
• Labour desk operation guideline and procedure approved in six local levels. 
• Four local levels has endorsed GESI policy