Gender Equity and Violence Against Women and Girls

In Bangladesh, women constitute the 50% of the population in Bangladesh and to develop the status of women government has taken several initiatives to educate and empower women. But still now in our society, the education of women is considered as a good marriage point. They are portrayed as mother, sister, wife, daughter and various roles where her individual existence fades away from reality. Though the country has achieved some progress to improve the condition of women in regards of gender equality in primary education, reducing maternal and infant mortality and birth rate. However, women are still deprived from their basic human rights and experience different forms of discrimination since birth despite several existing laws and regulation nationally and internationally to ensure the rights of women.

In accordance with women’s rights, men’s rights issue is also important but in male dominated society, it is an untold story which is recognized as taboo issue. According to a reliable data source January to June, 2015 sexual harassment statistics, about 92 victims are sexually harassed, out of which 5 were men. Like this way, everyday men face several problems or insecurities which are pushed away as marginalized incidents. They are trapped by the notions of masculinity, the kind of masculinity that defines real men as strong, violent, emotionally closed and sexually liberated. Under this masculinity trap men’s rights issue are covered. Likewise, inequality, power imbalances, patriarchal attitudes, socio-cultural norms and perception towards men and women are violating the rights of men and women.

Programme Objectives:

  • To promote gender equity in different development programmes and services (health, education, work, social safety net, disaster response etc.) of government and non-government sector in Bangladesh.
  • To protection of women’s rights by reducing violence against women and girls, specially who are living in the vulnerable community.

Strategies and Actions:

  • Awareness creation about trafficking, violence against women and girls, sexual abuse ,eve teasing, child marriage
  • Strength the security patrol at the border, training and motivation of BGB, police to prevent women, child trafficking.
  • Conduct advocacy to ensure the girls and children rights through workshop, symposium, meeting, leaflets etc
  • Sensitize of public service providers, law enforce authority on violence against women, rape, illegal fatwa to provide support to the victims
  • Establishment of community led violence protection mechanisms and build capacity of community for demand creation.
  • Strengthen local committees to address the issues of violence against women and girls, gender related issues