VAWG: EVIDENCE FROM DISASTER PRONE AREAS OF BANGLADESH

Violence against women is a violation of basic human rights, but we still witness various forms of gender-based violence across the world. Deep-rooted societal norms, stigma, religious fundamentalism, and patriarchal culture are responsible
for the prevalence of gender-based violence in Bangladesh. According to Human Development Report (2020), 54.2% of women aged 15 years and old witnessed violence by intimate partners, and 3% of women witnessed violence by a non- intimate partner. The BBS (2015) survey found that 70% of married women or girls have faced any sort of intimate partner abuse and half of them have been physically abused by their partner, and 3% took legal action against it. According to the report of Ain-o-Salish Kendra in (2020), a total number of 1,627 reported cases of rape were filed, which was 1413 in 2019 and 732 in 2018. Since Bangladesh witnesses frequent natural disasters every year, many people lose their homes and migrate elsewhere. Displacement of the populace owing to adverse climatic events triggers vulnerability and insecurity in the context of socio-economic well-being. Each year, extensive river erosion coupled with cyclonic disasters & salinity intrusion leads to climate displacements in Bangladesh. After natural disasters, there is a growing trend of women being subject to violence. Domestic violence may be exacerbated by prejudice that remains even after a disaster and undermines physical and social well-being, increasing the likelihood of domestic violence. Job loss, poverty, and the loss of loved ones cause tremendous mental stress, which leads to frustration and domestic violence.

The study is aiming to look into climate-induced displacement and its effect on violence against women in Bangladesh. The study will seek the consequences of climate change and the vulnerabilities, insecurity & psychological distresses they give rise to, along with the socio-cultural, economic, and political factors that gradually trigger violence against women among the displaced populace. Major findings of the study are following:

a) Displacement, financial crisis, gender-based violence, early marriages are the most critical and common disaster impacts in disaster-prone areas

b) Family violence escalate during any natural disaster, especially gender-based violence

c) Economic crisis and financial insecurity are the main reasons behind gender-based violence

d) Displacement as a result of natural disasters is a common occurrence, and one of the main reasons for this is to find a new economic activity

e) When men find it difficult to find work in new places, they become frustrated and distressed. This frustration and misery lead to violence against women in their families

f) In disaster-prone communities, dowry is another significant determinant of violence against women. The major cause for prevalent dowry practices, along with existing societal customs, is abject poverty. Those who lose their homes and other possessions due to a disaster put pressure on their spouses to get money from their families

g) Women in these areas are subjected to a wide spectrum of violence. They, particularly married women, are the most extreme victims of physiological assault. Physical violence against women is also frequent in these communities, with most cases perpetrated by their spouses or in-laws. Furthermore, women do not object to this due to fear, shame, or other social factors. Sexual violence is more common among young unmarried women and women with disabilities

h) Most families have faced difficulties adapting to a new place after being displaced, especially building new shelters and looking for new jobs

i) Child marriage is a common phenomenon in disaster-prone areas due to climate-induced displacement. Furthermore, this has adverse effects on women’s physical and mental health of the child bride. It often leads to death, the leading cause of which is early pregnancy

j) The main reasons for child marriage are the economic condition and prevailing social norms of the family

k) Unmarried women are not allowed to work outside; married women are allowed sometimes. Most women work in brick mills. Women are not concerned about menstrual hygiene due to lack of awareness.

The study suggests for inclusion of displaced people in existing policies to work on the betterment of these communities. Besides, violence against women in coastal areas should be addressed properly, and intervention of multiple stakeholders is necessary.

Download: VAWG: Evidence from Disaster Prone Areas of Bangladesh