The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and Buddha Air have signed a two-year cooperation agreement to raise awareness about gender-based violence (GBV) in Nepal, leveraging the reach of aviation to promote safety, dignity, and access to support services for survivors.

The agreement was signed on Wednesday in Lalitpur by Won Young Hong, UNFPA’s representative in Nepal, and Astha Basnet Thapa, executive director of Buddha Air.

UNFPA described the partnership as a significant step toward engaging the private sector in driving social change and public education on GBV.

As part of the initiative, Buddha Air will disseminate GBV awareness messages through boarding passes, in-flight leaflets, and its in-flight magazine Yatra. These materials will highlight referral services, emergency hotlines, and other support resources, with the aim of reaching travelers—particularly survivors in need of assistance—during their journeys.

“By embedding gender-based violence messaging into the everyday travel experience, this partnership with Buddha Air helps bring critical information to people where they are—on the move,” said Hong.

UNFPA will also provide targeted training for all Buddha Air staff on protection from sexual exploitation and abuse (PSEA). The training will cover misconduct reporting procedures and the promotion of respectful, inclusive environments, helping to integrate safeguarding principles into both customer service and workplace culture.

In addition to awareness and training efforts, the collaboration will explore pathways for economically empowering GBV survivors. This may involve connecting survivors with local service providers and identifying employment opportunities through referral networks.

“We’re proud to partner with UNFPA to help break the silence around GBV,” said Basnet. “As a company that connects communities, we believe in using our reach to create positive change—starting with information, empathy, and action.”