Nearly 31 percent of women in climate-sensitive areas have been victims of physical, mental, financial and sexual exploitation in the last year. However, due to lack of awareness about the different types of abuse they often fail to realize that they have been victims.
As a result, despite many incidents of abuse, only 16 percent of women reported incidents. These findings came from a survey conducted by the Manusher Jonno Foundation (MJF) in Char, Haor, coastal and hilly areas. The survey was conducted under the project titled ‘Community-Based Resilience, Women’s Empowerment and Action (CREA)’.
The findings of the baseline survey conducted under the CREA project were revealed at a virtual event on Wednesday. The survey looked at the impacts of climate change in 28 unions in 14 upazilas of 14 climate sensitive districts in the coastal, char, hilly and haor regions.
It also explored the current socio-economic situation of vulnerable communities and assessed the response of government agencies to their needs, particularly the needs of women and girls.
The survey report recommends preventing abuse through women empowerment, raising awareness against oppression and child marriage, as well as prompt response to complaints.