Vishakha is a voluntary organization working for the empowerment of women, young people, and marginalised communities. Since 1991 it has been working with communities, institutions, and the state to challenge iniquitous gender norms, and working creatively to enhance opportunities for learning, education, countering violence, and accessing health and well-Being. Vishakha emerged in the Post Deorala Sati Protest period; it was conceived by a group of academics and activists. We have been a part of the Women’s Movement and various campaign campaigns for people’s rights.
Vishakha was one of the key litigants in filing a joint PIL in the case where the Supreme Court of India issued the landmark Guidelines for Prevention of Sexual harassment at the Workplace in 1997, popularly known as the Vishakha Guidelines, which became the base for the new The Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013.
The key vision of Vishakha is to re-establish the Girl’s/ women’s identity as an individual in her own right and to work towards individual and collective empowerment of women, girls, youth, and communities through securing of rights, challenging violence, and accessing opportunities for development and wellness.