# Introduction he Non-Government Organizations (NGOs) are an integral part of development after our liberation. They are working on various socio-economic issues. Violence against women is one of those, and this is also one of the much-talked affair in developing Bangladesh. This article used the definition of 'violence against women' as described by 'United Nations Declaration on the Elimination of Violence against Women' which stated that-any act of gender-based violence that results in, or is likely to result in, physical, sexual or psychological harm or suffering to women, including threats of such acts, coercion or arbitrary deprivation of liberty, whether occurring in public or in private life (UN, 1993). As Bangladesh is a patriarchal society, our women have to face various forms of violence like marital abuse, rape, dowry killings, acid throwing, sexual harassment, and sex slavery through trafficking (Zaman, 1999). However, the law enforcing agencies failed to give punishment to the offenders as a recent study shows that in 97% of cases the offenders remained unpunished in 2002 to 2016 (Prothom Alo, 2018). A research shows that from 2002 to 2016, 7864 cases were filed in the in women and child tribunal court and among them, 4277 cases were settled,46% cases are running .Only 3% of offenders has been punished (ibid, 2018). In Bangladesh Government and NGOs are playing significant role to preserve women and child rights. Moreover, NGOs are the real grass root level actors with Government in the prevention of violation of all over the country. They involved in women empowerment by providing various services to the victims like shelter, medical assistance, conciliation, counseling, financial or entrepreneurial assistance, legal aid, and legal literacy, leading agitations and demonstration, etc. Literature also support the statement as Stanley said in her paper-In response to the problem of violence against women and girls and its wide-ranging implications, many non-governmental organizations (NGO) have sought to design and implement interventions that address the problem (Stanley, 2012). The study attempts to identify the trends of violence against women by analyzing police case files of the study areas and critically examine the community perceptions about the role of NGOs to prevent it. It is anticipated that this research will give some policy inputs to make preventive measures more effective. Research findings will help NGOs in identifying the areas required more attention. It will be also helpful for NGOs to understand the community perceptions about their activities. It will also put light on Government -NGOs gaps in performing the preventive measures. # II. A Brief Description of Patharghata Sub District of Barguna Patharghata Upazilla is a coastal area in Bangladesh. Its total area is 387.36 square kilometer, and its total population is 134,635 where male population constitutes 50.56% and female is 49.44% (Population Census, 1991). It is a very backward, undeveloped area where the literacy rate is 46.4% (ibid). Most of the families are involved in fishing along with some agricultural productivity. Its communication system is not improved enough. Moreover, Patharghata is the worst victim of various kinds of natural disasters every year caused by climatic change. # III. # Objectives of the Study To identify the existing trends of violence against women in NGOs intervention and non-NGOs intervention areas by analyzing police cases report from 2010 to 2015. 1. To compare the situation of violence against women between NGOs intervention and non-NGOs intervention areas by analyzing police cases report from 2010 to 2015. 2. To analyze the community perceptions about the causes of violence against women and the role of NGOs on it of the study areas. IV. # Methodology of the Study a) Study area The research conducted between June to August/2015 in Patharghataupazilla of Barguna, Bangladesh. The study has been conducted on two areas of the district considering similar geographical location, remoteness, public facilities, and transportation system. The study areas are selected purposively. # NGO intervention areas i. Ruhita village of Sadar Union and ii. Chototengra village of Chardoani Union Non-NGOs intervention areas Taltoli Union and Sonakata Union b) The Process of Data Collection Both primary and secondary data have been used to conduct the study. The research utilized both Quantitative and Qualitative methods including -survey, content analysis, focus group discussion, case study and key informant interviews (KII) tools to collect primary and secondary data. A number of 120 respondents were surveyed to understand the community perceptions. Moreover, four FGDs has been conducted in both areas among women, and adolescent girls, men, and teenaged boys, respondents have been selected Purposively: For KII, local community leaders, NGO personnel, local doctors, local police officer, local journalists, public prosecutors, leader of village courts have been interviewed, and also two case studies have been conducted on rape survivors and one on domestic violence in Patharghata. Moreover, secondary data were collected from police reported case files from the year of 2010 to 2015. NGO activities, their work plan, project planning, published books, printed documents and handouts are taken into considerations to analyze their roles in violence against women. V. Findings of the study have shown that rape was the most occurred violence in Patharghata and 80% of the reported cases were related to outrage. Also, the dowry was the second highest violence and approximately 60% filed cases were regarding to it. Moreover, the rate of other violence's was-kidnapping 55%, sexual harassment 43%, eve-teasing 35%, acid throwing 22%, trafficking 15 % and murder 17%. # Findings of the Study # VII. Violence Wise Reported Police Cases a) Rape Cases The table showed that the total number of police cases on rape in NGO intervention areas was higher than the non-NGO intervention areas and the number was 74 and 61 respectively. The rate was higher in 2011 from when the NGOs were started to work in Patharghata. # Case Study-01 Nilufa, fifteen years old girl lives in a village named 'The Padma' in Patharghata. In 2013, she was gang-raped by politically powerful local boys when she was a student of class seven. The boys abducted her forcefully from the school. After 21 days she was rescued with the help of the local people. At that time she was sick and became hospitalized. After a few days, a local NGO named Shushilan was informed about her and helped her to file a case to the police station. The case is running now with the legal and economic assistance of the NGO. # Case Study-02 Sharmin, a fifteen years old girl lives in 'Ruhita' village in Patharghata. In 2014, she was raped by her cousin when she was only nine years old. Instead of taking legal protection her parents tried to hide it from the neighbors in fear of social status. However, a after few days the village people as well as the local NGO Shushilan was informed about the incidence. In Ruhita village Shushilan has four committees to improve women's condition. The committees have come to the family members of Sharmin to inspire them to take legal steps against the criminal. With the help of Shushilan, they went to the police station and filed the case. Shushilan is bearing the cost of the case, and the case is running. # Graph 2: Community perception about the reasons of increasing rape in both NGOs and non-NGOs intervention areas Findings of the study showed that the highest number of community people (69%) believe that the atmosphere was the main reason for rape because their lifestyle behavior is directly related to the Bay of Bengal. At the same time, the climate of these areas is different from the other parts of the country. We know that the atmosphere always plays a central role to control human nature, behavior and also their reproductive health. As a local doctor said "the physical maturity of people of these areas is generally occurred early as compared to the other areas of the country. In the coastal area after 9-10 years, most of the children have grown up because of the availability of sea-food. As a result, they have physically grown up and sexual need drubbings, which is the ultimate reason for this occurrence" [Local doctor, Date: 12, 09, 2015]. Community people also identified alcohol abuse (65%), illiteracy (63%) and increasing pornography viewing facility (57%) as another factor behind the increased number of rape incidents. The Local journalist also supported their perception by saying "as the young people of these areas have limited opportunity to pass their leisure time and the availability of drugs, they become alcohol addicted. Moreover, viewing pornography is very popular among the young generation. As a result, rape is frequently occurred there [Local journalist Date: 12, 09, 2015]. Also, patriarchal attitude to women as well as the weak role of law enforcing agencies and lack of proper punishment are the causes of increasing the rate of rape in the study area. # b) Dowry In study areas, dowry is a common practice, and community people believe it as a culture. Findings of the study showed that the main reason for physical and sexual torture was dowry demand. When the husband's family did not get the demanded dowry, they started to torture their wives. At the same time, parents of the female children were also accustomed to giving dowry. They believe that dowry is a social system. A respondent said that he gave 'furniture, gold chain, a plot of land to his son-of-law at the time of marriage of her daughter.' The number of cases of dowry in NGO intervention areas was 56. The highest number of cases observed in 2013 which is more than the others. In NGO intervention areas we found that from 2010-2011 the rate was low, however, the rate was increased gradually after 2011/ when the NGOs started their activities in those areas. On the other hand, in the non NGO intervention areas, the number of cases remained two times lower than that of NGO intervention areas. # Case Study -3 Laizu, a twenty years girl lives in Chototengra village of Chardoani Union. In May/ 2014 Laizu was married off by her family. During her marriage her husband didn't demand dowry, however, after a few days her husband started to demand money from his inlaw's house for buying a plot of land. When Laizu disagreed to pay him the money, he began to beat her. Even he threatened to kill her by burning. He forced her to go to her father for money. Md. Musa, father of Laizu, discussed it with an NGO namely BRAC. # Graph 3: Community perception about factors behind dowry in Patharghata Upazila Findings of the study showed that community people accuse illiteracy (75%) and poverty (70%) as the main reasons for dowry. The oppressor used various techniques to make pressure to the wife to collect dowry from her parents as a local journalist said "With the technological development the impact of Indian serials, cinemas, the oppressors have learned to torture women. They have started to create pressure on their wife by sending their wife back to their parents demanding dowry. They even separate their wife from bed to create pressure". Others reasons included negative attitude towards women (60%), lack of women's education (55%), lack of decision making power in the family (45%), dependency on the husband (40%), etc. # c) Abduction Abduction is one of the acute violence occurring in the Patharghata in NGO and non-NGO intervention areas because waterway is always used as a transit point. The people of our study areas have no consciousness about the concept of abduction and trafficking. Due to their illiteracy, and poverty, they send their children with unknown people to earn money. Findings of the study showed that in NGO intervention areas the abduction rate was two times higher compared to the non-NGO intervention areas. In NGO intervention areas, after 2011 NGOs were trying to raise awareness among the community people. So, the trends to report police cases were increased highly. For example, the highest number of cases filed in 2013 and the number was 16, and over the through out, the total filed cases were 52.On the other hand, in non-NGO intervention areas, the number of abduction was 27. # d) Eve-teasing, kidnapping, acid throwing, murder and sexual harassment - - - - - - - - 1 2011 - - 2 2 1 - - - - 1 2012 1 - - 1 1 - - - - - 2013 - - - 1 6 - - 1 - 5 2014 - - 1 - 1 - 3 - - 4 2015 3 1 - - 3 - 1 - - 1 Total 6 1 3 4 12 - 4 1 - 12 Findings of the study showed that the filed eveteasing case in NGO intervention areas is only six whereas in the non-NGO intervention areas community people did not file any case. The reason behind the situation was community people did not view eveteasing as a social problem, and almost 90% girls aged 10 to 18 have to undergo the experience of eve-teasing. The Government, NGOs, and social organizations in these areas are trying to combat the situation. Moreover, this study found a limited number of cases of acid throwing and kidnapping in both study areas. Acid throwing and kidnapping were occurred because of the non-fulfillment of dowry demand, landrelated disputes and non-acceptance of the proposal of the affair. The findings of the research also showed that the incident of murder was filed in a minimal number. In most of the cases murder was directly linked with dowry as the non-fulfillment of dowry demands encouraged husband and his family members to torture to the wife and in some cases burnt her or murdered her. From 2010-2015 the number of cases of sexual harassment in both NGO and Non-NGO intervention areas was similar, and the number was 12. The reasons for sexual abuse were the economic crisis, refusal to bring dowry as well as partial payment of dowry and the age of women. Table 6 showed the comparison among the number of police cases in both areas where the people of NGO intervention areas reported the higher number of cases compared to the non-NGO intervention areas and the numbers were 218, 128 respectively. In the NGO intervention areas, the highest number of cases was reported in 2013 which was 61 whereas the maximum case filed in 2014 in non-NGO intervention area was 38. As a whole, from 2010 to 2015 the reported police cases were two or three times lower in non-NGO intervention area than NGO intervention area in Patharghata Upazila. In both areas, girls are born within a discriminatory condition, and the main reason behind this is the gender-based unequal treatment. Also violence varies according to the age of women. An NGO personnel said, "I think the age of survivors varies among different kinds of violence. We can differentiate it into three portions: for early marriage, the age is 12 to 13 for rape victims it is 16 to 17, and for domestic violence, the age is from 22 to 30 ages" [Project Officer of Shushilan, 12-09-2015]. Community people believe the following factors are related to the misfortune of women in the study areas- # a) Illiteracy Community people illiteracy as the key cause of violence against women. As they are uneducated the village people are unconscious and superstitious minded. Moreover, being illiterate women of these areas are deprived of decision making power in family and societal level. Women believe that they have the responsibility to maintain their family and obey the rules imposed by their husbands. # b) Long leisure hours As most of the people are engaged in fishing, they have to pass a long period of time without works. As a result, they are involved in many illegal activities. # c) Ineffectiveness of law enforcing agencies Though there are different laws to protect violence against women, however, community people said the ineffectiveness of law enforcing agencies encourages the oppressors to commit crimes. # d) The Lengthy process of cases As the cases take a long time to get the judgment, it becomes quite impossible to punish the culprits which discourage the survivors to report and encourages the perpetrators to commit crimes. # e) Political pressure In pathorghata, the research findings showed that most of the oppressors are allied to the strong political parties, and the political leaders want to save the oppressors to secure their political reputation and maintain their prestige. For this reason, they try to hide many cases. # f) Illegal financial benefits People who were engaged in administrative activities have done many unlawful works for financial benefits which were another hindrance for the betterment of women's position. As a female Upazilla Vice-Chairman said, "Chairman provides illegal birth certificates by manipulating the age. As a result, early marriage is frequently occurring in these areas. For registering the early marriage, the religious leader plays a strong role. They have fake register books along with the original one. They have done it for financial benefits" [Upazilla Vice-Chairman, 04-07-2015] g) Inactiveness of Village Court (in Bangla 'Gram Shalish') Every village has a the village court where the chairman is the secretary. Most of the village courts were ineffective and they often try to give judgments against women by implementing several traditional and self-created rules. Because of their electoral security and political benefits, they always support the male members. Moreover, they often did not follow the Village court's manual. Officer in Charge (OC) of Patharghatathana said, "Nowadays village courts are an inactive institution, and they have no accountability. It has many standing committees which are in a deadlock. If these standing committees are active, accountability and accuracy will be established." [O.C, Patharghata Thana, 04-07-2015]. Community people said that they usually do not go to the village court as the leader of the court gave them words, but they did not take any action. Even police remain mute in some situations and try to hide the incident by getting the bribe. Moreover, the chairman and other elected members also support the occurrence. On the other hand Chairman of Sonakhata Union express the opposite view and said, "though we have no power to provide any legal action if anyone wants assistance, the village court tried to solve the problem. They are restricted to provide any legal solution. I recommended providing legal power to village courts to make them effective" [Chairman of Sonakhata, Pathorghata, 04-07-2015]. # IX. Major NGOs Working for the Betterment of Women in Patharghata In the NGO intervention areas, the most prominent NGOs are/ i. Shusilon ii. AVAS iii. BRAC a) Shushilan Shushilan is the most active NGO in Patharghata upazilla. Their major goals are-a. To secure the rights and dignity of rural people especially for women. b. to create the diversified scope of livelihoods for fishermen, farmers and especially for women. They have launched several programs to improve women's socio-economic condition. One of the most effective programs of Shushilon titled "Women in Action to Engage and Resistance (WATER). Source: Shushilan,: 2015 Shushilon's programs are centered in Patherghata and Chorduani union of Barguna district which is the most vulnerable areas. Shuhilan creates 40 groups consisting of 25 members in each group. Among the groups, there are four adolescent girls groups, eight women's groups, four adolescent boys groups, and eight fishermen's association. All of the groups are very active and strong. The NGO officers monitor the group's discussions about violence against women including dowry, early marriage, physical violence. etc. They also teach how to contact with village court or Thana when any face any violent act. When any violence occurs, village people report it to their group and group leader tries to solve the problems. If he/she fails to resolve it, they inform to the "Anti-sexual harassment Committee" of the upazilla with the help of the Shushilon's officers for the solution. # b) Shushilan's legal aid services Shushilan provides the victims immediate medical and emergency supports. Besides this, they also provide legal aid services, for example-support the victims to file a case, support by giving lawyers and keep fighting against the culprits by running the case. Project Manager of Shushilan said, "most of the cases are filed by poor families who do not want to share the oppression. They believe it will hamper their social status. However, Shushilan is the only NGO where the victims share their harassments. The reason is Shushilon provides all sorts of support to the victims and their families" [Project Manager of Shushilan, Patharghata, 12-09-2015]. # c) Economic support Shushilan also provides economic support to the victims. For example, they provide Lawyers to the victims. A local journalist informed that "Shushilan provide lawyers support in 19 cases. By providing legal aid supports, Shushilon successively changes women's social status in Pathorghata". [Journalist, Patharghata, 04-07-2015] The law enforcing agencies also support the statement. They acknowledge that shushilon works along with the agencies to reduce violence against women as the OC said "Shushilon actively works on violence against women and children" [O.C., Patharghata Thana, 04-07-2015] # d) AVAS AVAS is another renowned NGO in Patharghata Upazila who is working for the betterment of women. It has been running various projects among them "Making women legal Right a Reality in Bangladesh Project" is only for women. The project goal is to protect women from violence and to provide legal aid support to women. Their activities include-? Receive the charge in free of cost and provide legal aid counseling ? Justify the cases and provide lawyers ? Try to solve problems by mutual understanding ? Proving assistance to file cases ? Support the oppressed and trafficked women by rehabilitating in save places. ? Refer to the government and non-government institutions to help the survivor's women. # X. Community Perception about Role of NGOs in Combatting Violence against Women in Patharghata The Government has taken measures for empowering of women in Bangladesh. However, the goal is far-reaching till today. In most cases NGOs are giving more effort than the Government in reducing violence. Findings of the study showed that community people feel NGOs are playing the active role in combatting violence against women in three ways: # a) Creating awareness The number of cases of violence is much higher in the NGO-intervention area compared to Non-NGO intervention are because people are educationally advance and conscious about the violence. Upzilla Vice-Chairman of Patharghata said, "After 2007 NGOs effectively work in Patharghata union. They play a vital role in raising awareness among the village people. In the past women were lumping person but nowadays when they face any problem, they inform the UNO (the administrative head at Upazila level of local government). Moreover, DC (Deputy Commissioner, the executive head of the district) has a public number to be informed about any kinds of problem. Awareness building activities, seminars, discussion programs are also arranged by NGOs in Patharghata" [Vice-Chairman of Upazilla, Patharghata 04-07-2015]. NGO play a major role in decreasing the violence against women as a local journalist said, "After 2007 NGOs strongly work on social welfare activities, especially for women. For example, NGOs play almost 70% of the role in developing women's condition where the rest is played by the government, civil society, newspapers, TV Programmes etc. Moreover before NGOs activities, people did not know what violence against women means, how to prevent it and that it is also a violation of criminal law of our country. In pathorghata Shushilan, Songkalpo, Songram and other local NGOs play strong role for raising awareness among the rural illiterate people". [Local Journalist, 04-07-2015]. # b) Reporting or filed cases The situation of NGOs intervention areas is better compared to Non-NGO intervention areas. Violence in Non-NGO intervention areas are very common and women are very unconscious, uneducated and have no idea about their own rights. People of Non-NGOS intervention areas do not file case in case of violence. So, the rate of reporting is increasing in NGO intervention area compared to Non-NGO. NGO plays a major role in creating conscious or takes measure initiatives to violence against women. When the researcher wanted to know about the subject, Ismail Hossain, a NGO officer, stated that, "Different types of violence extremely occurred in pathorghata in the past however, local people do not report it to the police station. However nowadays due to consciousness among people they report to the police. As a result violence is decreasing while the quantity of report is increasing. Observing the police cases report it is clear that, awareness is rising among the people. [Project Manager, Shushilan, 04-07-2015] c) Accessing relevant public services By accessing the victims socio-economic status NGOs provide necessary services to the victim's family. For example: legal aid support to poor destitute women, financial support to survivors, counseling services to the survivors, immediate shelter and medical facilities to the survivor women and other emergency initiatives. # XI. # Conclusion In Bangladesh NGOs have been playing significant role in improving the situation of violence against women, poverty alleviation, good health, food security, disaster management etc. the contribution of NGOs as a pivotal force, in combating the violence against women. Women suffer not only from physical, psychological and sexual violence causing many physical and mental health problems. NGOs have taken many initiatives in ensuring the women rights. NGOs have been establishing human dignity of the poor and destitute women through institution building and women empowerment process. NGOs aim at providing humanitarian assistance to the women in order to help them and to make them aware about their rights and responsibilities. They have been working for women empowerment and development of destitute, uneducated women, realizing their own strengths and power. NGOs envisage promotion and development of the rural and urban poor women by providing different welfare services, technical assistance and carry out research for the development of the women. So, NGOs are playing significant roles to build up a sustainable society through encouraging human and gender rights. ![Role of NGOS in Combating Violence against Women: A Comparative Study on Ngos Intervention and Non-Intervention Areas of Barguna District, Bangladesh VI. Recent Trends of Violence against Women in Patharghata To understand the recent trends of violence, this study has collected data from the recorded case filed books of the police station of Patharghata in the of six years which has been shown below-Source: Police case files from 2010-2015 of Patharghata Graph 1: Showing the general trends of violence reported to the police station in both NGO intervention and non-NGO intervention areas from 2010 to 2015](image-2.png "") ![Role of NGOS in Combating Violence against Women: A Comparative Study on Ngos Intervention and Non-Intervention Areas of Barguna District, Bangladesh VIII. Community Perception about the Reasons of Violence against Women](image-3.png "Non") ![Role of NGOS in Combating Violence against Women: A Comparative Study on Ngos Intervention and Non-Intervention Areas of Barguna District, Bangladesh](image-4.png "") 1AgeFrequencyPercentMaleSexFemale5-1043.33-411-1597.54516-201613.33-1621-2512105726-301512.541131-352823.3372136-402218.3341841-4586.666246-506533Total1201003387 2Number of casesPercentageYearNGO interventionNon-NGO interventionNGO interventionNon-NGO interventionareasareasareaarea20108110.81.6201117622.99.8201212716.211.42013201627.026.22014101613.526.2220157(up to June)17( up to June)9.422.9Total7461100100 3Number of casesPercentageYearNGO intervention areasNon-NGO intervention areasNGO intervention areasNon-NGO intervention areas20106310.7113.042011538.9213.042012141254.34201319733.930.43201410817.8534.7820152(up to June)1( up to June)3.574.34Total5623100100 4Number of casesPercentageYearNGO interventionNon-NGO interventionNGO interventionNon-NGOareasareasareasintervention areas20106211.537.402011549.6114.812012121423.0714.81201316830.7629.62201410619.2322.2220153(up to June)3( up to June)5.7611.11Total5227100100 5NGO intervention areas 6YearNGO intervention areaNumber of cases Non-NGO intervention area201022720113414201241122013613720144538201517(up to June)20(up to June)Total218128 7YearTotal number of violenceDowryEarly marriageMurderAcid throwingDomestic violenceSexual harassment/ tortureEve-teasingOthersNumber of oppressor arrestedRemarks2012137--90----3539--Most ofthe casesare ofdomesticviolence2013131--681--4477--4Solvedone caseand3runningcases2014100--59--128741RunningCaseUp to44--16----215--2RunningJuneCase2015Total412-23311128192025 © 2018 Global Journals Funding: This study was funded by Action Aid, Bangladesh under Young Research Fellowship Program initiated by Program Quality and Impact Directorate of Action Aid, Bangladesh. * Violence against Women in Bangladesh: Issues and Responses, Women's Studies International Forum HZaman 1999 22 * ProthomAlo 8 th March, 2018 * Population Census of Government of People's Republic of Bangladesh 1991 * Engendering Change? An Analysis of How NGOs Work on the Problem of Violence Against Women in South Africa EStanley Journal of Politics & International Studies 2047-7651 8 2012. 2012 * Declaration on the Elimination of Violence against Women United Nations 1993