EMistreatment of women is one of the major social injustices the human civilization has known, but
thankfully, through centuries of revolution, we have reached the era where the notion that women
should enjoy equal rights as their male counterparts is, more or less, recognized by most of the
educated population. Yet, women around the world are still facing various hindrances, ranging from
prejudice to downright abuse. A frighteningly large number of women are leading lives plagued by
violence, unjust cruelty and other forms of discrimination. In Bangladesh, a country where the psyche
of the majority is quite patriarchal, violence against women is an age old social disease.
Aparajeyo-Bangladesh Interventions:
Gender inequality, despite much progress, remains among the greatest challenges of our times. Fed by deeply
embedded discrimination against women and girls, it is wrong and costly, whether it interrupts economic
progress, undercuts peace or restricts the quality of leadership. Ending it should be foremost among global and
national goals. Aparjeyo-Bangladesh, as a national human rights organisation of gender equality and women’s
empowerment, works to stop the causes and reduce the consequences of gender inequality. Our unique mandate
means that we help in establishing norms and standards, and then design interventions in Bangladesh to take
actions making these real in women’s lives. We cannot do this alone. Through assistance from the Government
of Bangladesh, UN partners, USAID, European Commission, other International Agencies and our close relationships local government, civil society and others, we leverage knowledge, resources and influence, so that
gender equality has its rightful role at the centre of all efforts to advance human progress.
Humanitarian emergencies such as natural disaster due to climate change and the Rohingya Refugee influx into
Bangladesh are factor that can have devastating and differential consequences on individuals and communities
due to factors such as gender, age, disability, ethnicity, and sexual identity and orientation. Women, persons
with disabilities, indigenous persons, persons with diverse gender identity and sexual orientation, older persons,
and adolescent girls – often have additional specific and intersecting vulnerabilities and protection concerns that
are further compounded by their sex and gender.
In times of such crisis, pre-existing gender inequality can be exacerbated, leading to discrimination, exploitation,
and impacting an individual’s access to recovery, development and their access to human rights. Women and
girls have historically been disproportionately affected by crises in comparison to their male counterparts,
including reduced life expectancies, maternal mortality, and gender-based violence. Promoting gender equality
and the empowerment of women and girls must be central to our commitment to protect and provide assistance
to people affected by crisis. Our planning and assistance must contribute to gender equality by effectively
identifying and responding to the needs, priorities and capacities of women, girls, boys and men in all their
diversities.
Protection and Rescue: AB operates 37 centres at commercial, residential and slum areas of the cities and 56
outreach spots at public places such as railway/bus/boat terminals, markets, parks, etc for female and females.
Priority is given to females. Children, adolescents and women at the outreach and centre-based programmes are
cared for and protected by the staff team from abandonment, abuse and exploitation. They are assured of a
decent standard of living. Children are rescued from abusive situations on the street, their working places or
police stations. Severely sick persons are rescued and taken to Clinics or government hospitals for treatment.
AB’s team comprising of social workers, educators, paramedics, community/street workers remain within reach
of the children, youth and women and vigilant round the clock.
Gender equality: Gender equality and non-discrimination are recognized human rights. As such women are
included within the assessment team, a special strategy for consulting women has been developed and the
assessment process ensures that disaggregated data is presented to analyze how the situation is affecting them
specifically. The women and communities gain access to information about our interventions and the national
context thus increasing their knowledge and awareness and this has been contributing for their empowerment.
Emphasis is put on sharing information, equal partnership, participation in planning and decision making in
order to ensure the acceptable attitude and reasonable behavioral changes occurred to ensure non-discrimination
and gender equality. Our community-based Human Rights Impact Assessment is therefore, both a capacity
building exercise and a social process that empowers women and communities to claim and assert their rights
and engage with NGOS, CBOs and the government departments in meaningful ways.
Gender Based Violence: Girls, adolescents and women are at risk of gender-based violence (GBV) at family
level, working places and even in the public places. Studies have revealed that 72% women victim of beaten up
by their husband. Early marriage has become a coping strategy in all part of the country particularly in the
remote areas, hard to reach villages, Chittagong hill tracts, urban slums, mobile/ floating community including
in the Rohingya refugee camps as they see child marriage as a protective measure to provide for their daughters.
Bangladesh government has a Marriage Resistant Act-2017 with a special reservation but the people are not well
aware about this law. There is a lack of comprehensive law to address gender based violence. Aparajeyo Has
been providing training and conducting session on GBV to all of the beneficiaries so that they are aware of how
to tackle the situation and can immediately report to the available national helplines.
Commercial Sexual Abuse & Exploitation: In Bangladesh, sexual abuse and exploitation especially for
commercial (CSAE) reasons continues to be a widespread phenomenon despite the adherence to the
International Treaties, and the enactment of rigorous domestic laws which are supposed to safeguarding children
and women from (SAE) sexual abuse exploitation. In the country there are no reliable statistics and information
CSAE and SAE of children and women who become victims SAE. Children and women of all ages have been
Page 31 of 49 found to be subjected to sexual exploitation and the teenage are the most vulnerable group Aparajeyo has its safe
guarding policy and mechanism therefore if any CSAE and SAE cases reported we investigate and or take legal
actions with immediate effect.
Recovery, Repatriation & Family Reunification: Institute settings are in place for recovery of children
adolescents and women rescued from lost situations, violence, abandonment, run-aways or trafficking to assist
in curing their trauma. For this to be achieved: we develop professional human skills, notably in the field of
counselling and address a substantial lack of homes and residential structures. Victims of such circumstances are
then re-unified with the families. AB’s has developed procedures with NGOs, police, government departments,
for the return of beneficiaries to their families. These procedures do not cause further trauma and are facilitated
by a good co-ordination of the various actors.
Source: Annual Report 2022