Women Empowerment Nepal (WEN) is an organization of women’s rights activists, journalists, educationists, and martial artists engaged in Women’s Rights Protection and Self-Defence. In 2013-2014, Edessa Ramos, a top-ranked international martial artist, traveled to Nepal and taught hundreds of women how to defend themselves from harassment, attacks, and sexual assault. Later they formed the organization WEN. With her 20 years of experience in teaching, mentoring, and counseling women and girls, Edessa built the capacities of local instructors and helped spread the art of women’s self-defense. Edessa moved on to later establish the Amalna Foundation, while WEN self-defense instructors continued the work of empowering thousands of women in Nepal. Below are some of the philosophies and principles that guide this work.

Self-Defense demonstration by Edessa Ramos in Kathmandu, organized by WEN

Why should women learn self-defence? Every year, the WHO cites violence against women as a worldwide pandemic. Fear has too long and too often been used to shape women’s lives, enforce male domination, and deprive them of equal opportunities for self-determination. The effort to combat sexual gender-based violence starts with helping women maintain control over their bodies, protect their own safe space, and lead other women in doing the same.

“Indecent and violent behaviour towards women is unacceptable! And we must make it clear.” Our training focuses on women becoming self-reliant, empowered to decide on her course of action, and capable of taking action to save herself.

Fight for freedom and control over own body.  Real protection means to recognize threats, deal with violence through empowered means such as simple but effective self-defence, and become women’s rights defenders actively engaged in promoting protection for all women. This 3-pronged approach of recognition-defence-transformation directly addresses the biggest threats: sexual harassment, street violence, sexual assault, and rape.

WEN CONTACT:  Rashmila Prajapati
Email: rashmilaps@gmail.com

AMALNA CONTACT:  Edessa Ramos
Email: edessa@amalna.org
Website: www.amalna.org