preloader-matrix

Cwcsbd

OUR ORGANIZATIONAL CAPACITY

Since 1994, CWCS has conducted 20 research studies and completed over 49 projects throughout Bangladesh of which 24 projects were on awareness raising and prevention efforts to combat trafficking, rescue victims of internal and cross-border trafficking, protection of survivors, family reintegration and rehabilitation of survivors through life skill developmenttraining, income generating activities and job placement.

The Centre has more than 2 decades experience of working with vulnerable women and girls who have been victims of various forms of violence, especially domestic violence, sexual exploitation and cross-border trafficking. In 2007, CWCS identified Satkhira district as the worst disaster and traffic-prone district which is bordering India and started to work intensively to combat human trafficking by forming Community Watch Committees (CWC) at union level consisting of local government representatives and community members; organizing courtyard meetings with vulnerable women and girls; bazar meetings at community level; sensitizing police officials working at police stations to enhance victims’ access to justice; and advocacy with health service providers to provide healthcare services to victims and survivors. In the process, CWCS developed referral mechanism through its hotline services with active participation of government officials especially police and health service providers, NGOs, Community Watch Committee (CWC) members, journalists and community people who referred victims/survivors to the Centre’s Information Health Booth and transit shelter facilities for healthcare, counselling services and shelter.

We have taken a holistic approach of healthcare support, psychosocial counselling, legal support, shelter and reintegration with the families back home. Since 2011, CWCS has provided shelter and healthcare support to 1,008 women and child survivors of trafficking and sexual exploitation and have given psychosocial counselling to 1,618 survivors and their families, and they were reintegrated with their families. About 468 survivors were placed in the garment factory at Dhaka; 50 women were given sewing training and machines; 360 were provided livestock training in goat and duck rearing and were given goats and ducks for their income generating activities; and 180 were given training in business entrepreneurship and cash initiatives.

Women have contributed to their household income and have gained self-respect and decisionmaking power in family matters. On the other hand, those who are being placed in secured jobs at the garment industry at Dhaka are now able to handle their earnings; make the decision on the amount to be sent home; open bank account and saving money for future use; know worker rights at the workplace; voice their demands; and capable to make complains against injustice or if they face sexual harassment.

In 1997, CWCS launched Traffic Watch Bangladesh (TWB) – a network of national and grassroots NGOs/CBOs which has more than 400 members covering nearly all the districts of Bangladesh. CWCS has provided training and technical support to build their capacity in counter-trafficking activities such as prevention, awareness raising, protection, legal support, rescue, rehabilitation, re-integration etc. Moreover, our counter-trafficking activities being implemented at the grassroots level were always with the collaboration of the TWB members. We conducted orientation of the police at 398 police stations jointly with the TWB members on child rights issues where child trafficking and the role of the police was highlighted. Although CWCS is based in Dhaka with branch office in Satkhira district but it has outreach programs with coverage throughout Bangladesh with the support of TWB network members. In 2022, Centre for Women and Children Studies (CWCS) has launched a network with 22 national and grassroots women rights organizations to work on safe migration of women to combat trafficking.

Scroll to Top