On 7th August 2024, Setu Nepal conducted a program, supported by the UNTF entitled "Orientation on Issues of WLHIV and Gender-Based Violence Survivors to Empower and Protect." The event aimed to enhance the skills of key staff, including health professionals, safe house workers, police officers, government officials, and NGO workers, in the areas of prevention, coordinated response, protection, and rehabilitation for Women Living with HIV (WLHIV) and survivors of gender-based violence (GBV). The program began with participant introductions and opening remarks by Ms. Shrima Basnyat, Communication and Development Officer. This was followed by an overview of Setu Nepal's work by Executive Director Ms. Ranju Pandey, focusing on their efforts to support WLHIV and GBV survivors.
The program featured several insightful sessions, starting with a discussion on GBV issues led by Gender Specialist Ms. Surya Laxmi Bajracharya. Participants engaged in an interactive activity where they used colored dots to indicate activities that would or would not result in HIV transmission, which stimulated engaging discussions and was well-received by attendees. Psychologist Ms. Sunita Shrestha also delivered a session on the importance of sensitivity in handling GBV cases, providing practical guidance to ensure compassionate and effective support for survivors.
The ward official appreciated the program expressed his support to Setu Nepal and welcomed Setu Nepal to collaborate with the ward for future programs. The event concluded with participants writing down their commitments to empowering and protecting WLHIV and GBV survivors, and suggesting ways their organizations and Setu Nepal could collaborate to reduce stigma and discrimination. The closing remarks were given by Ms. Ranju Pandey, who expressed gratitude for the active participation and reinforced Setu Nepal's commitment to these causes. The program was deemed a success, significantly enhancing the participants' knowledge and fostering a collaborative approach to addressing the needs of WLHIV and GBV survivors.
