Sara Thapa Magar identifies herself as an Indigenous woman human rights activist from Nepal and a dedicated advocate for the rights, health, and leadership of women, children, and young people living with and affected by HIV. With more than a decade of experience in community mobilization, policy advocacy, and movement building, she has worked at local, national, regional, and global levels to advance gender equality, social justice, and meaningful community engagement.
Sara currently serves as the Executive Director of the National Federation of Women Living with HIV and AIDS (NFWLHA) and previously made history as the organization’s first young President. She is also an advisory member of the WHO South-East Asia Regional Validation Committee for the Elimination of Mother-to-Child Transmission (EMTCT) of HIV, Syphilis, and Hepatitis With more than a decade of experience in community mobilization, advocacy, and program leadership, she has worked to strengthen the voices and participation of women, young people, and marginalized communities affected by HIV.
Her work spans local, national, regional, and global levels, focusing on stigma reduction, gender-responsive programming, social justice, and equitable access to health services. Sara has led and contributed to numerous initiatives that strengthen community-led responses to HIV, including Nepal’s PLHIV Stigma Index, community-led monitoring efforts, and the review of HIV Care, Support, and Treatment guidelines. She has also supported feminist leadership development, youth engagement, and advocacy efforts aimed at improving the health and wellbeing of women and girls living with HIV.
Sara believes that sustainable change is only possible when communities are empowered to lead. Through advocacy, mentorship, and movement building, she continues to champion a future where every person can live with dignity, equality, and opportunity.