Quarterly Performance Report: October – December 2011

The program aims to reduce the high prevalence of domestic violence and other related human rights abuses in targeted areas of Bangladesh. The program is being implemented by Plan International Bangladesh under a Cooperative Agreement with USAID, in collaboration with the Bangladesh National Woman Lawyers' Association (BNWLA) and International Center for Research on Women (ICRW). The program focuses on three major pillars: Prevention, Protection, and Prosecution. The objectives of the program include improving the quality of advocacy for the adoption and enforcement of key domestic violence and human rights legislation and policies, improving mutual understanding and effectiveness between key actors involved in reducing violence and strengthening responses to other interwoven human rights abuses, increasing access to and willingness of survivors to seek justice through formal and informal sectors, expanding immediate and longer-term support to survivors of domestic violence, and increasing awareness of domestic violence and related human rights issues at the national and local levels. The program works collaboratively to adopt laws and policies that criminalize domestic violence and protect human rights, increase the use of legal services by survivors, increase awareness and understanding among the public of their human rights and the impact of violations on vulnerable groups and the community, increase the awareness and knowledge of law enforcement, judges, prosecutors, labor inspectors, and other Government of Bangladesh officials on the legal rights of vulnerable groups, and improve the capacity and performance of targeted key players in the fight against domestic violence and other human rights abuse. The program is divided into five components: Advocacy, Capacity Building, Access to Justice, Survivor Services, and Mass awareness and educational campaign. The program areas include six divisions, six districts, eight upazilas, and 102 unions in the Barisal, Khulna, Rajshahi, Rangpur, Sylhet, and Chittagong divisions. During the quarter, the program started to create links with key actors in Bangladesh to expedite its advocacy efforts on two main issues: advocating for developing rules of procedures and the enforcement of the provisions of the Domestic Violence (Prevention and Protection) Act, 2010, and linking into global efforts related to the International Violence against Women Act. The program also conducted a series of focus group discussions and meetings with key stakeholders to discuss the program's objectives and activities. The program's performance in the quarter was satisfactory, with significant progress made in creating links with key actors, conducting focus group discussions and meetings, and developing the program's advocacy strategy. However, some challenges were encountered, including the need for further capacity building of key actors and the need for increased awareness and understanding among the public of their human rights and the impact of violations on vulnerable groups and the community. The program's next quarter will focus on implementing its advocacy strategy, conducting training and capacity building programs for key actors, and expanding access to justice for abused women and other vulnerable groups through informal and formal mechanisms. The program will also continue to work collaboratively with local and national government representatives, non-governmental organizations, citizens, and community leaders to spearhead efforts to eradicate domestic violence and human rights abuse. The program's achievements in the quarter include the development of a comprehensive advocacy strategy, the creation of links with key actors in Bangladesh, and the conduct of focus group discussions and meetings with key stakeholders. The program's challenges include the need for further capacity building of key actors and the need for increased awareness and understanding among the public of their human rights and the impact of violations on vulnerable groups and the community.