Our Story

Who We Are

Founded in 1992, Sakshi is one of India’s pioneering not-for-profit organisations dedicated to preventing gender-based violence and advancing gender equality by equipping Change Agents with the capacity to implement micro-actions and interrupt the cycle of Gender Based Violence and Harassment (GBVH) and Sexual Violence in their everyday lives.

Our work brings together legal expertise, institutional strengthening, behavioural science and the social arts to prevent gender-based violence, advance rights and create safer, more equal environments for women, girls and communities.

Through its impactful Public Interest Litigations (PILs) - Vishakha V/s State of Rajasthan and Sakshi V/s Union Of India, Sakshi has played a key role in shaping landmark laws such as PoSH, POCSO, and the Sexual Assault Bill. Through the Asia Pacific Advisory Forum, Sakshi has been a cornerstone for judicial education on gender equality across five countries of the region.

Our mission is to prevent gender-based violence by building informed change agents who strengthen systems, transform behaviours and advance rights.

Sakshi actively partners with organisations such as UN Women, IDH, CNH and Mahindra Finance, contributing to programs like the Women’s Safety Accelerator Fund (WSAF), the Livelihood and Entrepreneurship Awareness Development (LEAD) project, Dhan Samvaad project and the Textile Industry Coalition (TiC), spearheaded by the Government of Tamil Nadu and powered by UN Women, while aligning its efforts with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 4, 5, 11, and 16.

To know more about our journey, please click here.

Our Mission

To prevent gender-based violence by building informed change agents who strengthen systems, transform behaviours and advance rights.

Our Vision

A world free from gender-based violence, where equality, safety and justice are lived realities for all.

Our Principles

  • Diversity and Inclusion

    We are deeply committed to the value of inclusion and equity in our programs and initiatives. We work to eradicate discrimination and create safe spaces where each voice matters. Our dedication to diversity and inclusion drives us to foster a culture of respect and acceptance, celebrating the unique perspectives and backgrounds that each individual brings to the table.

  • Everyday Equality

    We believe in the principle of Everyday equality, where women, children and other marginalised groups feel equal and included in every aspect of life. Our work is defined by the practice of embedding equality in daily life in order to address structural inequality and bring about systemic change. Embracing the ethos of Everyday Equality, we are dedicated to dismantling barriers that hinder progress and equality.

  • Do-No-Harm

    By underlining every aspect of our programmatic engagements with careful consideration of the impact of our interventions, Sakshi's communication strategy is centered on the Do No Harm Framework. This is to prevent any unintended consequence of our activities and to ensure that all communication undertaken by Sakshi is thoughtfully planned in alignment with our organizational values.