The Asian-Pacific Resource and Research Centre for Women (ARROW) and UN Women are partnering on an initiative to end violence against women with disabilities, implemented by Women with Disabilities Development Foundation (WDDF) in Bangladesh. We are now seeking a consultant (individual or organisation based in Bangladesh) to conduct a baseline of the status of SRHR among Women and Girls with Disabilities (WGWD)  facing sexual and gender-based violence in Bangladesh. 

Currently, there is insufficient reliable data/statistics, which shows the true rate of violence experienced by WGWD. Unofficial surveys, based on newspaper reporting of incidents, have confirmed that WGWDs are prone to violence, including sexual violence and the rate of such incidents is high, especially in remote areas of Bangladesh. Such violence infringes the rights of WGWD especially their sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR).

Despite the development around protecting rights of persons with disabilities in Bangladesh, SRHR of persons with disabilities continues to be a neglected topic. Non-prioritisation of SRHR combined with the lack of knowledge, awareness and accessibility on this issue makes WGWD further vulnerable to exploitation. In most cases, such incidents go unreported to the police, with victims already stigmatised because of their gender and disability. This scenario along with many other factors affects the access to justice rights of WGWD and prevents them from receiving legal remedies/reliefs. Furthermore, the neglect around SRHR of WGWD means that the effect of such violence on WGWD’s sexual and reproductive wellbeing is not accounted for and the SRHR lens is missing in the discourse around sexual and gender violence perpetrated against them.

The baseline study will therefore focus on the nature and prevalence of violence perpetrated against WGWD from an SRHR lens. The baseline survey will cover SRHR violations arising from violence experienced by WGWD in both public and private settings with emphasis on emotional, physical and sexual violence perpetrated by intimate partners and/or family members and as sexual violence and harassment faced by WGWD in the community (neighbours, strangers, public spaces etc.)

The baseline study will cover 5 sub districts (Bogura Sadar, Gabtoli, Sherpur, Sonatola, Kahalu) and 10 Unions under these sub districts in Bangladesh.

The total budget allocated for this baseline survey is 20,000 USD. The consultant/institution /organisation will be responsible to carry out the baseline in the given timeline and budget.

Full details pertaining to the scope of the study, eligibility, timeline and deliverables is given in the call for expression of interest HERE.

Please submit your Expression of Interest (EoI) including a cover letter and budget breakdown by 15 March, 2020.

EOI_ Baseline Survey_Women and Girls with Disability project in Bangladesh