BRAC addressing violence against women presentation to the Bangladesh Gender working group (GWG) in Dec 2019

1. Addressing Violence against Women & Children : BRAC
Initiatives
Gender Justice & Diversity, BRAC

2. Know the Fact : Global (WHO 2019)
• Violence against women (VAW) is a violation of human rights, is rooted in gender
inequality, is a public health problem, and an impediment to sustainable development.
• Nearly 1 in 3 (35%) women worldwide have experienced physical and/or sexual violence
by an intimate partner
• Globally between 38%-50% of murders of women are committed by intimate partners.
• Violence negatively affects women’s physical and mental health and well-being. It has
social and economic consequences and costs for families, communities and societies.
• The majority (55-95%) of women survivors of violence do not disclose or seek any type
of services.
• Adolescent girls, young women, women belonging to ethnic and other minorities,
transsexual women , and women with disabilities face a higher risk of different forms of
violence.
• Violence against women and girls is preventable. To prevent violence, mitigate the risk
factors and amplify the protective factors

3. Despite of having more than 25 policy instruments to protect
women rights, 72.6% of married women in Bangladesh
experience violence by their husbands (BBS 2015)
Know the Fact : Bangladesh
Prevalence of physical IPV is highest (35%) compare to other
urban (20%) and rural areas (22%). (BBS 2015)
In 2018, a total of 12400 incidents of gender based
violence were reported. Out of total 84% were women
and 16% were children (BRAC 2019).
A study on monetary cost of domestic violence against
women reveals the economic loss of almost BDT 14
million which is about 2% of annual GDP of
Bangladesh.
(Understanding the monetary cost of domestic violence, CARE and USAID, 2012)

4. BRAC Gender Strategic Goals (2016-2020)
Goal 1 : Coordinated actions to
address violence against women and
Children (VAWC) across all BRAC
initiatives.
Target: At least 10% lower incidence of
VAWC than present levels in all field
areas
Goal 2 : Mobilizing men and boys in
addressing VAWC across all BRAC
initiatives.
Target: Activities /platforms to mobilize
men & boys integrated towards
addressing VAWC in BRAC programs
Goal 3: Ensuring women and men in
BRAC have equal opportunities for
participation, personal & professional
advancement towards contribution to
organization’s vision and goals.
Target: Improvement in staff ratios at mid
level with at least 30% women staff in
general and 40% in new recruitment
Goal 4: Ensuring violence free working
environment in all BRAC offices.
Target: Reduction in incidences of sexual
harassment by at least 50% of the present
level
IN PROGRAMMES IN ORGANIZATION

5. We are trying to contribute …..

6. Jhenai
dah
Rajsh
ahi
Gaiband
ha
Rajbar
i
Jaypur
hat
Jess
ore
Sher
pur
Kurigr
am
Rang
pur
Dinaj
pur
Mymen
sing
Bog
ura
Cumi
lla
Kus
htia
Habig
anj
Pab
na Dha
ka
Syl
het
Khuln
a
Bari
sal
Gazi
pur
Chattog
ram
Manikg
anj
Narayan
ganj
Jamalpur
HNPP
BEP
Aarong
BDFP
AAF
MF
Total Outreach
1522600
(HNPP-843000, BEP-
105000,
MF-547500,Enterprise-
27100)
Total Upazila
143
Total District
24
Total Branch
Office
220
Enterprise
Outlet
35
Maternity
Center
46
Target to reach 1.84 mil in 2019
7million by 2020
Outreach target 2019We reached 1,845,632, F : 1,654,611 in 2018

7. A comprehensive way BRAC address VAWC
Address VAWC through
engaging communities in
violence prevention and
ensuring survivor support
services
Mainstreaming addressing
violence against women &
children (VAWC) through
coordinated approach and
men/boys engagement
towards women's
empowerment and gender
equality across all BRAC
initiatives
Build the capacity of women
and promote community
dialogue to promote social
cohesion and de-radicalization
Advocacy from local to
national level for women
empowerment, reducing
Violence Against Women
and ending Child Marriage

8. Institutions
norms,
practices that
impose stricter
restrictions and
sanctions on
women and
children.
Gender
discrimination
in
institutions
VAW Risk Factors
Power
hierarchy in
social relations
(based on age,
class,, gender,
religion) that
make women
and children
relatively more
vulnerable to
abuse and
violence
Non
recognition
of individuals
rights,
dignity,
freedom,
choice and
bodily
integrity.
Harmful
gender
norms that
uphold
male
privilege
and limit
women’s
autonomy
Discriminatory
laws on
property
ownership,
marriage,
divorce
and child
custody
Absence or lack
of enforcement
of
laws addressing
violence
against
women

9. Social Ecological Framework of VAW and children
Societal
Societal
Cultural and religious
beliefs and values
(macro-level), gender
norms, social and
cultural norms that
accept VAWC, national
laws and policies,
poverty and inequality,
weak legal and justice
system, notion of
masculinity
Community
&
Institutions
Social norms
and practices
(micro-level),
tolerance/
acceptance of
VAWC, male
dominance, low
concern for
women’s health
and safety,
situational
factors
Relationship
Partner and
family
relationship and
environment,
parental
practices, peer
influence,
gendered family
norms
Individual
Knowledge,
beliefs &
values, self-
perception,
experience,
subjective
norms
A comprehensive approach allows to identify root causes of multiple level

10. 
• Families, communities and
institutions believe in and uphold
gender equality as a norm and no
longer accept VAW.
• Build social structures, norms and
practices that protect against VAW
and/or reduce the risk of it
occurring
Prevention
• Interventions after violence has
occurred
• Ensure access to survivor
support services
• Build social structures, norms and
practices that maximize the prospects
of rebuilding lives after violence,
minimize its impacts and reduce the
likelihood of recurrence in the longer
term
Protection
• Provide support for Long-
term rehabilitation
• Empower survivor and
strengthen their confidence
and capacities for their
resilience and sustainable
livelihood.
Social Re-
integration
A comprehensive Programmatic approach of BRAC to eliminating all forms of VAW and
Children
Advocacy and Communication
Influence of existing national policy frameworks. Ongoing reform of the response system
through existing legal policy and frameworks is critical, BRAC VAWC Campaign
…………….
LowHigh
BRAC
Response

11. Guiding principles for effective interventions approach based on the
framework
Core Values
PROGRAMME
interventions
Leave no one behind
Address multiple and intersecting forms of
discrimination
.
Participatory approach to build on the
voice, agency and skills of people.
Promote coordination; Support
partnerships across sectors and
organizations, and at local and national levels
Combined Interventions
Facilitate collective programming with individuals,
families and communities to address the multiple risk
factors and multiple forms
Address the prevention continuum ; Link
prevention and
response interventions
Promote gender equality and women
empowerment (Ensure that analysis of
unequal gender and power relations and
male privilege over women is at the center of
programming)
Put women’s safety first and do no harm
(Ensure confidentiality of information and
anticipate and address unintended
Consequences
Take a life-cycle approach; Implement
programmes that work with children, adolescents and
young people for early interventions

12. Strengthening the enabling environment for addressing VAW
Build political
commitment from
leaders and policy
makers to speak out,
condemning violence
against women.
Put in place and facilitate
enforcement of laws and policies
that address violence against women
and that promote gender
equality, including access to services
Allocate resources to
programmes, research, and
to strengthen institutions and
capacities of the health,
education, law enforcement,
and social services sectors
to address violence against
women.
Invest in, build on the
work of, resource, and
support women's
organizations.