To prevent violence against women during the pandemic situation, the leaders and members of World Academy Bangladesh have extended a helping hand through their project "My Sisters Keeper" since May 11.
The lockdown for coronavirus started in Bangladesh on March 24 this year.
A recent study by the Foundation for People found that in April alone, about 4,249 women and 456 children were victims of domestic violence in 27 of Bangladesh's 64 districts, reports a press release issued by My Sister’s keeper recently.
Of these women, 848 have been tortured physically, 2,008 have been tortured mentally, more than 85 have been sexually abused and 1,308 have been tortured for financial gains.
“We have been married for seven years. In the last seven years I have never seen my husband behave in the way he did for the last three months.” said a victim of domestic violence to the Bangladeshi leaders of the World Academy's My Sisters Keeper Global Project.
“My child stopped going to his father in fear. I still remember the way he hit me that night. I never thought that would happen to me!” she added.
The World Academy For the Future of Women (WAFW) is a non-profit organization that works to help students develop leadership and become self-reliant.
In October 2018, the World Academy started its journey in Bangladesh with 100 young women jointly with the University of Liberal Arts Bangladesh (ULAB).
The second year training of the organization is already underway at ULAB, as the university constantly engages to ensure women and children's rights, their development and self-reliance.
Nadia Rahman, assistant professor at ULAB's Department of English and Humanities (DEH), is working alongside the international trainers
In this project, former and current female student leaders of the World Academy are working together to help women.
They are also working to help achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), especially the fifth one, which deals with gender equality and women empowerment.
They are already working to raise awareness on social media as well as counseling vulnerable women, raising awareness about the types of abuse, raising voice, women's rights, using National Emergency Number 109 for women and child abuse and providing legal assistance.
They are also working to create a safe haven for women and children, in collaboration with Rokeya Sadan, KNH Ahsania Centre for Abandoned Children and Destitute Women, the Bandhu Foundation among other humanitarian organizations.
The main objective of the World Academy's My Sisters Keeper project is to prevent tolerance towards abuse of women and children as well as to build a Bangladesh of equal rights.
Besides women, they are also trying to raise awareness about the rights of men too.
