Context:
Domestic violence against women and children is widespread in Bangladesh. To date, there is a lack of effective prevention measures. Government bodies and civil society organisations have only limited capacity in terms of staff and expertise, and their work is not coordinated effectively. Furthermore, a reliable database on domestic violence is not available.
Objective:
Relevant government and civil society actors in Bangladesh are now better equipped to prevent domestic violence in the long term through effective prevention measures.
Approach:
The project advises the Ministry of Women and Children Affairs (MoWCA) on how to prevent domestic violence across different government agencies and departments. This also includes implementing the National Action Plan to Prevent Violence Against Women and Children (NAPVAW). At the same time, the project trains and advises government and civil society representatives on resolving conflicts without resorting to violence and on engaging with individuals who may be prone to violence. It also enables them to apply methods of social behavioural change (SBC) – that is, approaches to bringing about lasting behavioural change through targeted communication, community engagement and insights from behavioural science. In addition, the project improves the data on domestic violence through studies, communication materials and a central database at MoWCA. Close cooperation with civil society organisations ensures the project’s implementation locally.