Sancharika Samuha Nepal (SASN), a forum of women journalists and communicators, was established in April 1996 with an inspiration from Beijing Platform for Action to take forward the Section ‘J – Women and Media’ of the BPFA in Nepal. SASN was registered in Lalitpur District Administration Office in April 1996 and affiliated with the Social Welfare Council(SWC). Currently, approximately 1,200 women journalists from across the country are affiliated to SASN. It has its Provincial networks in seven provinces of country. It is further extending its offices at the district level as well.
As a media organization Sancharika Samuha Nepal has been relentlessly working for the welfare and empowerment of the community in favor of social campaign. SASN prioritized its advocacy program: to create social awareness, bring positive changes in the thoughts and behaviors of people towards respective subjects, establish campaign in favor of community and society and reinforce the voice that is in favor of welfare of the community. The targeted groups of these advocacies are government, policy makers, social activist, political analyzers, editors and publishers, member of citizen networks, etc.
Relationships: SASN has developed good professional relationship with various national, regional and international organizations, coalitions, alliances and social movements over the past two decades. SASN, depending on the gravity and the nature of issues, builds alliance with different organizations and change actors and has been able to render itself as a distinct authority in the field of gender and media and women’s rights. Nepali policy makers and international NGOs often seek consultation, advice and support from SASN on issues concerning media and gender.
SASN has been actively participating in different National Forums: Federation of Nepalese Journalists (FNJ), Nepal Press Institute, Nepal Press Council, Safe Motherhood Network, National Network for Beijing Review in Nepal, Reproductive Health Rights Working Group, Women Security Pressure Group, National Network for Safe Migration, Shantimalika, NGO Federation etc. Besides, SASN has worked with several Government agencies such as the Ministry of Finance; Ministry of Communication and Information Technology; National Women Commission; Ministry of Women, Children and Senior Citizens; National Human Rights Commission and many others.
SASN has developed working relation with some regional organizations, like South Asia Media Association, South Asia Free Media Association, South Asian Women in Media and South Asian Editors Forum. Over last two decades, it has worked with many development partners such as :
Australian Embassy (Direct Aid Program), Alliance for social dialogue (ASD), Action Aid ,International Nepal, Academy for Educational Development (AED), Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA), Care Nepal, Danida/HUGOU, Enabling State Programme (ESP)/DFID, European Union, Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung (FES), Global Network of Women Peace Builders (GNWP), International Media Support (IMS), International Alert Nepal, IPAS, National Democratic Institute (NDI), Open Society Foundation, Swiss Embassy, The Royal Norwegian Embassy, UNDP, UNFPA, UNICEF, UNESCO, UN Women, UNDP/Electoral Support Project, US Embassy, World Wildlife fund (WWF).
Institutional Governance: A General Assembly (GA) is held annually to inform all the general members of SASN about the activities of the organization and take strategic policy decisions. The assembly, every three years, also elects a 17-member Executive Committee (EC) of SASN for a three-year term. The EC is the policy-making body of the organization. In order to advise the EC on its policy and programs, an Advisory Board has also been established among noted journalists and civil society experts with gender balance. SASN, based on the expanding scope and volume of its work, has also expanded its management team. The team comprises of professionals in program management, finance and administration, SGBV, media monitoring, communication and logistics units. The organization’s day to day functions are guided by its operational manual which includes policies on financial management, personnel management, administration and GESI.
Institutional Expertise: SASN is a pioneer women journalists’ organization formed to mainstream women’s issues in media and to enhance the representation of women in media. The key activities of SASN include gender training for media professionals; publication of monthly ‘Sancharika Features’ since 1997 on violence against women and girls and women’s rights; basic journalism/feature writing training, investigative reporting and ethical media reporting training for women journalists since 2005; media monitoring since 1998 to ascertain the trend and pattern of media coverage on women’s issues and VAW&G for advocacy; production of weekly radio and TV programmes Samakon on women’s issues; publication of an online news portal (www.emahilakhabar.com) covering women’s issues; establishment of Sancharika Equality Award, 2000; Sancharika Encouragemnt Award, 2008 and Late Uma Singh Journalism Award, 2009 to encourage women journalists and women’s issues and continued lobby, advocacy on women’s issues through public hearings, conferences, social media messages, webinars and public day celebrations. SASN also started Sancharika Bahas on positive masculinity to increase reflection on the roles and responsibilities of men in changing traditional gender norms. The purpose of the campaign is to demonstrate how men can and have taken the responsibility to change their own perception and behaviors, despite growing up and living in a patriarchal set up.
Consortium Experience: As it firmly believes that the joint efforts and strategic partnership generates better results, SAS has managed a number of projects in partnership with various organizations.