Reducing gender-based violence through vocational training and legal support

According to a 2015 Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics survey, about 82% of married women in the country are abused by their husbands at least once. Women between the ages of 22 and 44 are most at risk of sexual abuse.

The Zonta Club of Chittagong and Ensure Legal Support through Local Movement and Action (ELLMA) partnered to reduce gender-based violence (GBV) in the Chittagong metropolitan city area of Bangladesh. The project’s objectives included educating women on the types of violence and inequality in society, increasing the morale and capacity of local people to prevent GBV, and taking various social movement by uniting local people, social organizations and other professionals to prevent violence against women.

With a US$5,000 grant from Zonta International, ELLMA conducted the project, which included meetings with service providers and beneficiaries, discussion meetings with government officials and social leaders, providing technical and vocational training to female survivors of GBV, offering legal assistance to help female survivors get justice, distributing sewing machines to ensure employment, publishing and distributing booklets on GBV reduction and relevant laws, and celebrating Women's Violence Prevention Day and World Women's Day.

The project benefited 50 women and 50 girls, as well as their families and community. Beneficiaries have been in touch with different service providers and are receiving services from various government and non-governmental organizations.

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