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).
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.
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 programme
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 Encouragement 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.
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.
A Nepal with an equitable society where women, men, girls and boys alike can enjoy equal
rights
To create gender equal society by enhancing the capacity of media for promoting equity and
equality based development.
Sancharika Samuha Nepal (SASN), a forum of women journalists and communicators, was established in April 1996. The overarching goal of SAS is addressing the issue of ‘Women and Media’. The Fourth World Women’s Conference held in Beijing, China inspired the founding of the forum. It presently has a loose network of 1200 women journalists working in print and electronic media from all over the country. It has its offices in all province of the country. It is further extending its offices at the district level as well. Through its expanded network, SASN is able to conduct and coordinate program for the upliftment of the status of women and girls all over the country by mainstreaming their issues in media. As its slogan ‘Communication for Equality’ implies, mainstreaming gender in the media has always been the overriding concern of SAS. For this purpose, SAS has been conducting various activities on media advocacy on gender and equality particularly related to reducing gender based violence. SAS also conducted a weekly television program and radio program Samakon for raising issues related to women. Similarly, SAS has online portal www.emahilakhabar.com dedicated to raise the issues of women empowerment and Gender Equality. SAS has been carrying out other activities such as public hearings, research, Sancharika feature service, media monitoring and other media campaigns. With these activities and program, SAS has been able to play a catalyst role between the women movement and the media contributing to generate better understanding and bridging the differences that exist.
The media plays a crucial role in disseminating information about rights and duties, as well as holding duty bearers accountable. Moreover, it can serve as a potent tool in the fight against gender inequality by promoting women’s leadership and economic empowerment. Advocacy through media is considered a crucial strategy, providing a platform to inform, educate, and generate debate and discussion on a variety of issues. In the present age, numerous methods of information sharing have been subsumed by large social media platforms, which boast incredible speed, reach, and penetration. We aim to bring together accomplished and emerging women in media through recognition events and professional development opportunities for women journalists, fostering a community of dedicated and talented media professionals.
SASN believes in collective efforts to combat violence against women, to bring positive changes in the state policies, to support the victims of violence, to increase the representation of female journalists qualitatively and quantitatively and to create a just society founded on sustainable development. For this, combined effort of various like-minded organizations is inevitable. Realizing this, SASN has been developing good relationship with various national, regional and/international organizations, coalitions, alliances and social movements right from its inception. SASN has established itself as an ardent organization of women journalists and communicators which enjoys recognition from the mainstream media, government agencies, non-governmental organizations, donors, national, regional and international organizations of journalists and other networks. 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 and often seek consultation, advice and support from SASN on issues concerning media and gender. SASN develops network and alliance with external agencies mainly for two reasons: to bring gender and advocacy and gender-sensitive professionals, organizations, coalitions and networks together for greater impact and to seek donor support in order to invigorate and avoid duplication of work. SASN accepts support only when the donors’ values and principles align with its values and principles. As a result of its ongoing quest for network and alliance building, SAS has been actively participating in the following national forums:
SAS has also collaborated with various Government Agencies such as:
Ministry of Communication and Information Technology
SAS has developed working relation with the following regional and international organizations:
SAS has been collaborating with the international NGOs, bilateral and multilateral development
partner for the last couple of years:
