Our Story

Who We Are

Sakshi, founded in 1992, is a pioneering organisation dedicated to ending gender-based violence and promoting gender equality. Over the past three decades, Sakshi has worked at the intersection of law, education, advocacy, and behaviour change with a vision to create a violence-free world for all. 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.

Sakshi’s commitment to change extends beyond legal frameworks, with a mission to end gender-based violence for women, children, youth, and marginalised communities through nationwide initiatives. Our programs are designed to reshape gender norms and build safer communities. As an organisation grounded in research, advocacy, and transformative programs, 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, the 

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

By dismantling patriarchal norms and practices that further intersectional inequalities and widen the gender gap, Sakshi’s mission is to contribute to policies and practices that promote and protect equality as a fundamental human right. Through our work, we aim to challenge oppressive norms and beliefs that perpetuate systemic gender-based abuse and violence.

Our Vision

To end gender-based violence for all, including women, children, youth, vulnerable and marginalized groups.

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.