Violence against women is a major cause of suffering and is linked to poverty in Bangladesh. It occurs within the domestic and working arenas but remains largely under-reported and uninvestigated. Violence against women is not limited to men and boys, as women can also be perpetrators.

The technical cooperation project a joint endeavor of the UN agencies in Bangladesh to support achievement of Millennium Development Goal 3 on gender equality. The strategies of this project are:

• Promote adoption and implementation of policies to prevent violence against women and protect victims. This will include to enhancing capacities of the Government of Bangladesh to address violence against women, improve access to information related to gender and violence, and provide support to NGOs and civil society.
• Address attitudes and behaviors of men, women, boys and girls. Activities will include awareness-raising, sensitization, networking, and developing capacities of “gatekeepers” and stakeholders.
• To protect and help victims of gender-based violence, the project will provide women survivors with immediate care, relief and rehabilitation. Immediate care and protection of vulnerable individuals and victims will be provided through a comprehensive package including expanding, renovating and improving the existing shelter system.

Through the above project, ILO will work with its constituents to:

• Strengthen their awareness about and capacities on addressing violence against women in the workplace;
• Enhance women's participation and representation in constituents' structures;
• Create decent and safe working conditions for women.