Prevention of emotional and psychological violence against women and girls living with HIV/AIDS, survivors of human trafficking and victims of gender-based violence

Shakti Milan Samaj (SMS) has been implementing a wide range of impactful interventions aimed at improving the lives of women and girls facing multiple and intersecting forms of marginalization. These initiatives encompass providing safe shelter and holistic care for girls living with HIV/AIDS, ensuring they have a secure, nurturing, and supportive environment in which they can recover, regain confidence, and rebuild their lives. Alongside shelter support, SMS offers regular, trauma-informed psychosocial counselling sessions to vulnerable women and children, enabling them to cope with the deep emotional wounds, stigma, and discrimination often associated with their circumstances.

Recognizing the importance of evidence-based advocacy, SMS also conducts in-depth interviews and focus group discussions (FGDs) with beneficiaries and, where appropriate, their children. These sessions capture accurate and firsthand experiences of violence, exclusion, and systemic neglect. The insights gathered are used to inform and influence stakeholders, policymakers, and decision-makers, ensuring that interventions and policies reflect the real needs and lived realities of those affected. In addition, SMS organizes sensitization programs and interactive sessions with communities, local leaders, service providers, and relevant authorities to address and dismantle the barriers that prevent women from accessing critical services and exercising their rights. These activities not only raise awareness about preventing violence against women and girls but also foster open dialogue, mutual understanding, and collaborative action. By combining direct support, rigorous documentation of lived experiences, and strategic advocacy, SMS works to create a more inclusive, just, and compassionate society; one where all women and girls can live with dignity, equality, and safety.