Shakti Samuha is the world’s first organization which has been established and run by the survivors of human trafficking. In 1996, the Indian government conducted a raid in the red light area in Mumbai and freed about 500 young girls from Nepal, India, and Bangladesh and kept them in government houses. The young girls were forced to stay at those houses despite the inhuman treatment and criminal environment against them. Though the Nepalese girls wanted to return home, the Nepalese government did not approve their arrival in the fear that they might bring HIV aids back home. During the same time, 7 organizations who were working against the human trafficking ( WOREC Nepal, ABC Nepal, CWIN, Maiti Nepal, Nawa Jyoti Kendra, and Istri Shakti) were able to bring home those girls from India. From among them, 12 girls were kept in the rehabilitation center of WOREC Nepal.

WOREC Nepal conducted 10 days of basic training to those girls about gender, health services, and trafficking. There were 15 girls in total who participated in that training. After the training, the girls concluded that it was not their fault to be involved in trafficking and opined that trafficking had taken roots in the Nepalese society as a crime. So, in order to stop, the 15 girls came together and established the SHAKTI SAMUHA with the determination of  ‘ Turning tears into Power’. Shakti Samuha worked unofficially against human trafficking since 1996 and in 2000 AD only it was officially registered and started working legally.

From the time of its establishment, Shakti Samuha has worked towards ensuring the social justice for those victims of human trafficking and who are at high risk of such trafficking by empowering, informing and organizing the women and girls from the community level. It has conducted various programs and initiatives to empower the group of victims. This organization has worked together in liaison with various national and international level organizations and networks to give justice to those affected by human trafficking.

 Some statistic:

—  168 members have got membership from the organization, who have the right to lead the organization and discuss the issues.

—  1027 trafficking survivors have got the shelter support from Shakti Samuha till this date.

—  It is running 74 Adolescent group (1647 adolescence members), 

15 trafficking survivor’s group (299 members), 2 Network of women (22 members), 4 group of those women who work in the entertainment sector (117 members), 6 parents group (120 members), 3 adolescent group network. 

—  Shakti Samuha is running five shelter homes (three shelters in Kathmandu among them 1 is Transit home, Women Rehabilitation Center in Sindhupalchowk and Emergency Shelter Home in Kaski) for the trafficking survivors and the girls at the high risk of trafficking.

—  Shakti Samuha has provided Education support to the  1514 children among 10 districts out of the 15 working districts (till 2016)

—  Shakti Samuha has provided IG support to 487 members

—  Since 2009 Shakti Samuha has repatriated 145 human trafficking survivor women and children from India.

—   By the initiation of Shakti Samuha 68 case has registered in court.

Vision

Trafficking survivors will be empowered to lead a dignified life in society.

Mission

Trafficking survivors and women and children at risk of trafficking will be organized, empowered and aware, which will enable them to contribute to campaigns against human trafficking, protecting women and girls living in vulnerable conditions.

 Goal

The goal of Shakti Samuha is to establish a progressive society, devoid of trafficking and other kinds of violence against women.

 Values

• Trafficking survivors should have the same rights and freedoms as any other member of society.
• Trafficking survivors should lead the movement against trafficking, ensuring their own rights and those of others.
• No member of Shakti Samuha shall be discriminated against in their service to the organization.

Objectives

Shakti Samuha has the following objectives:

• To establish income generating and skills-based programs that create a sustainable livelihood for trafficking survivors
• To advocate and lobby for necessary changes to the law
• To organize meetings and campaigns to raise awareness and minimize the risk of trafficking
• To establish a safe house and emergency support for the rehabilitation and reintegration of trafficking survivors
• To manage and update data on trafficking survivors
• To assist trafficking survivors with legal, employment and counseling services.
• To coordinate with local, national and international organizations.
• To protect vulnerable girls and women from trafficking
• To organize the development of staff-members for effective program implementation.