Millennium Development Goals :: MDG

UNFPA provides support to the Government for implementing the recommendations of the Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW). Under the current Fifth Country Programme (1998-2002) UNFPA support will be to the tune of US$ 35 million out of which 70% has been allocated to Reproductive Health including Family Planning followed by 20% to Advocacy on Reproductive Health and Gender issues, 9% to Population Development Strategy and 1% to Programme Coordination and Assistance. Out of this US$ 35 million US$ 31 million comes from UNFPA’s regular resources and US$ 4 million from European Commission’s Reproductive Health Initiatives in Asia. The initiatives related to gender equality issues are:

Advocacy on Reproductive Health and Gender Issues through the Training Institutes of Ministry of Home Affairs : The Project will assist the Ministry of Home Affairs in incorporating RH and Gender Issues in training curriculum of it’s Training Institutes. The objective is to sensitise, raise awareness and increase participation of members of the Police, Ansars, Bangladesh Rifles (BDR), Village Defence Party (VDP), Jail and Fire Service Personnel on issues relating to RH and Gender Equity and Equality. Of particular importance is the fact that it will reach a large number of men including about 3.5 million Ansars and VDPs, 200,000 police, 150,000 BDR members. In terms of measurable outputs, the project will promote increased positive attitudes and behaviour and increased knowledge on Reproductive Health and gender. This Project will also result in enhanced support for gender equity and human rights and decreased incidence of gender based violence, intimidation and negative behaviours towards women among specified groups in the police and thereby helping to change organizational environment and culture of law enforcement agencies. An amount of US$1,000,000 has been allocated for this project.

Strengthen BCC Unit to Support Advocacy Activities : In order to facilitate positive behaviour on RH and Family Planning and create a supportive behavioural change communication efforts need to be well planned, targeted and be clear and consistent. The focus of this project has shifted from mainly a family planning to a comprehensive approach of reproductive health. The project will play a critical role in clarifying the reproductive health, reproductive rights, gender equity and equality and other relevant issues; increasing support of decision makers to the programme; and creating an enabling condition for the programme implementation through mass media and face-to-face communication interventions. While this project will continue to strengthen BCC activities in support of reproductive health and gender equity, its functions also extend beyond these activities and are expected to play a crucial coordination role. The project is therefore designed to make a major contribution to the achievement of the purposes and the goal of the population advocacy sub-programme by bringing about positive behavioural changes among various segments of population, and creating a supportive environment.

A Technical Cell for the Intersectoral Programme with two professional staff has been established within the structure of the Behavioural Change Communication Unit (BCCU) will provide technical inputs to other advocacy projects

Advocacy on Reproductive Health and Gender Issues through the Training Institutes of the Ministry of Establishment : Bangladesh Public Administration Training Centre( BPATC), is the prime training centre under the Ministry of establishment This project will provide support for integration of reproductive health and gender issues into both the regular and specialized short-term workshops and seminars organised by the BPATC on a wide range of population related issues. Integrating the key components of population and reproductive health issues, into the programme for senior staff, Foundation Training Course and advance courses on administration and development, the project will help to increase the understanding of the broader issues of population and development including reproductive health, that will enable the senior officers to ensure that gender issue is reflected in all national and departmental policies and programmes. They will be adequately informed and oriented on gender issues, reproductive health and rights to ensure good management through conscious judgment towards settling and disposal of conflicts and complaints involving men and women.

Advocacy on Reproductive Health and Gender through Rural Cooperatives : The major activities of the project is to train and orient the Cooperative Members at all levels to make them proactive social change agents on RH, RR and Gender Equity. The training will include orientation on reproductive health as well as interpersonal skills, resource mobilization, income generating activities with financial support from the cooperatives. These training programs will focus on vital issues, like the need and importance of seeking ANC and PNC, planning and arranging for organizing emergency assistance (funds and transportation) for EOC. In addition, the cooperators will also conduct social advocacy and education in the community in support of delayed marriage and first birth and also acceptance of long acting methods of FP. This project will directly link with the cooperative structure of the country. Vertically, it will have linkage with the Bangladesh Rural Development Board (BRDB) structure through its district and upazila offices and horizontally it will link with the Upazila Central Cooperative Association (UCCA) and other social development departments at upazila level and cooperative societies at village level. This project will directly link with the cooperative structure of the country. Vertically, it will have linkage with the Bangladesh Rural Development Board (BRDB) structure through its district and upazila offices and horizontally it will link with the Upazila Central Cooperative Association (UCCA) and other social development departments at upazila level and cooperative societies at village level.

Family Welfare and Reproductive Health Education and Services for Garment Workers :

This project will cover three zones at Malibagh, Mirpur (Dhaka) and another one in Chittagong. Implementation of the project will need support from other component projects under advocacy and reproductive sub-programmes. Under this project an integrated package of reproductive health education and services at garments factory level will be provided. This component project will cover three industrial zones with a total of 375 garment industries involving 300,000 workers .The project is expected to develop an overall understanding of reproductive health issues, reproductive rights and gender equity among relevant planners and decision makers of BGMEA and to strengthen workers’ welfare cell within the BGMEA to provide welfare services to het workers on a sustainable basis; Linkages will be established between the BGMEA health centers and other health facilities including the health facilities of the Dhaka and Chittagong City Corporations and other similar facilities within the localities.

Advocacy to End Gender Based Violence Through The Ministry of Women and Children Affairs : Violence against women in Bangladesh is common and a major health concern. women are largely excluded from family decision making process; they have limited access to and exercise limited control over resources; their freedom of movement is severely constrained. Violence against women in Bangladesh has largely been aggravated by certain socio-cultural factors such as lack of gender equality, lack of awareness and knowledge about rights, poverty, low educational level, women’s position in the family and cultural taboos regarding violence and rape. This project aims at mobilizing communities to end violence against women, and ensure the necessary policy and legal provision for this.

The project is expected to bring a change in the attitude of husbands, mother-in-laws, officials and public leaders towards violence against women wives/daughter-in-laws. VAW is a serious social problem, which needs to be addressed by changing the attitude of men in the society. The paternalistic society, which supports male dominance, encourage men (husbands and fathers) to commit physical and mental tortures, particularly on women.