FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact (USA): Biva Ranjeet                  Contact (Nepal): Helen Gurung
Email: nwgn@nepaliwomen.org                Email: helengurung@gmail.com
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2009 ANNAPURNA ACTIVIST AWARD RECIPIENT ANNOUNCED
Nepali Women’s Global Network is proud to announce the awarding of the 2009 annual Annapurna Activist Award to
 Shyam Kumar Pokharel, founder of SASANE (Samrakshak Samuha Nepal) in Nepal

The Annapurna Activist Award was founded in 2007 to recognize a Nepali individual who has made outstanding contributions toward increasing awareness of, advocating for, and securing the rights of women and children in the area of sex trafficking in Nepal. These efforts include, but are not limited to positive gains made towards ending the suffering of Nepali women and children who are trafficked into sexual slavery throughout the world. The Annapurna Activist Award carries a monetary award of $1000.00 USD, through the Nepali Women’s Global Network (NWGN). NWGN is a non-profit organization committed to ending the exploitative practice of sex trafficking through building awareness, advocacy, and activism.  For more information on NWGN, please visit www.nepaliwomen.org

The 2009 recipient of this award is Shyam Kumar Pokharel. Mr. Pokharel has been working in the field of women’s rights for twenty years. He has carried out numerous research projects, including the ‘Study on Male Trafficking Prisoners, with Special Reference to Human Trafficking in Kathmandu Valley’ and ‘Labor Trafficking in Nepal’. These studies have been published and are recognized by the Ministry of Women and Social Welfare as authentic reference materials.

Mr. Pokharel founded Samrakshak Samuha Nepal (SASANE) in 2008 and handed over the leadership to its women members in 2009 (www.sasane.org.np). While acting as General Secretary, SASANE completed studies on violence against women under the pretext of tradition, religion and practices. Mr. Pokharel is currently working as advisor to the organization providing training to members of SASANE on research and legal issues.

NWGN applauds the work of Mr. Pokharel in shaping the future of the rights of women and children across Nepal. We look forward to seeing further expansion of his work and wish him the best for his future endeavors on behalf of Nepali people everywhere. Mr. Pokharel intends to donate the award amount to SASANE. The award is sponsored by NWGN’s affiliated organization, Captive Daughters (http://captivedaughters.org).

The award will be presented on October 25, 2009 at the annual conference organized by the Didi Project (www.didiproject.org) at the Shankar Hotel in Kathmandu, 3-6 pm. The award will be presented by Ms. Birajya Manandhar, representing NWGN. Ms. Pooja Dhimal, Executive Director of SASANE and Mr. Pokharel will also speak at the presentation.
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