Vishakha is a voluntary organization working for the empowerment of women, young people, and marginalised communities. Since 1991 it has been working with communities, institutions, and the state to challenge iniquitous gender norms, and working creatively to enhance opportunities for learning, education, countering violence, and accessing health and well-Being. Vishakha emerged in the Post Deorala Sati Protest period; it was conceived by a group of academics and activists.  We have been a part of the Women’s Movement and various campaign campaigns for people’s rights.

 

Vishakha was one of the key litigants in filing a joint PIL in the case where the Supreme Court of India issued the landmark Guidelines for Prevention of Sexual harassment at the Workplace in 1997, popularly known as the Vishakha Guidelines, which became the base for the new The Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013

 

The key vision of Vishakha is to re-establish the Girl’s/ women’s identity as an individual in her own right and to work towards individual and collective empowerment of women, girls, youth, and communities through securing of rights, challenging violence, and accessing opportunities for development and wellness.

 

We believe all people, particularly women, girls, and young people must have the opportunity and avenues to discover their own selves and also the knowledge and the agency to challenge the power relations that impact their lives. Only this will lead to a wholesome and equitous life with dignity.

 

We continue to work towards empowering individuals and communities and addressing the root cause of inequality, injustice, and discrimination. We believe that inequality leads to deprivation of rights, opportunities, choices, knowledge, and resources. Hence, to bring about the structural and systemic changes through a rights-based approach, ensuring that communities and individuals are the right holders, we work through the following strategies:

• Creating accountability mechanisms at the state and institutional level
• Increase social inclusion based on gender, identity, marginalization
• Increase the voices of people in decision-making processes
• Empowering individuals and communities to articulate and demand for their rights.

 

Over the years we have worked with a range of state actors and colleagues in the voluntary sector providing technical assistance on programming on Violence against Women, girls & youth empowerment, counselling & well-being.

 

Currently, we are working in different parts of Rajsthan i.e. Salumbar block (with tribal girls & local community & stakeholders), Bagru (semi-urban area-with youth), Kota (migrants students & relevant stakeholders), hanumangarh, Bikaner, Udaipur on the issues of combating VAWG, SRHR, building local level leadership, mental health & well-being. And provide technical support to UNICEF Jharkhand, UNICEF Gujarat, and Bihar.