Called SHIKHA, the project between the EU and BRAC is designed to bolster both preventive measures and response systems to develop safer spaces in public and private domains.
The launch of SHIKHA project follows recent studies, which indicate that in Bangladesh, 80% of women employed in garment factories, 74% of female students in educational institutions, 94% of women using public transportation, and 68% of women on online platforms have faced various forms of violence or harassment.
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At the project’s launch ceremony, BRAC social compliance and safeguarding director Jenefa Jabbar presented overview of SHIKHA project, highlighting the importance of social awareness and community involvement in driving behavioural change to address gender-based violence and foster safer environments for women, both in public and private spaces.
EU to Bangladesh ambassador and delegation head Michael Miller communicated the necessity for women’s active engagement in all societal facets to shape a progressive Bangladesh.
He emphasised that gender-based violence is a concern that goes beyond individual rights and impacts broader societal development and needs a collective action to address it, a view shared by the EU as well.
The SHIKHA project will be executed by BRAC alongside Bangladesh Legal Aid and Services Trust (BLAST) and Young Power in Social Action (YPSA), aiming to cultivate safer environments within workplaces, educational institutions, public areas, and digital platforms.
The project will advocate for policy reforms, improve enforcement protocols, and promote awareness to counteract detrimental social norms and stereotypes.
Spanning over four years, this initiative will target prominent urban districts including Dhaka, Gazipur, Chattogram, Barishal, Narayanganj, and Rajshahi with the goal of instigating enduring systemic change.
BRAC executive director Asif Saleh also called for a united front extending beyond feminist groups to safeguard advancements made by women in Bangladesh.
Bangladesh Department of Inspection for Factories and Establishments (DIFE) inspector general (additional secretary) Omar Md Imrul Mohsin confirmed DIFE’s commitment to fostering violence-free environments through the SHIKHA project.
