Survivors helping themselves

Sumi Akhter of Laksham, Noakhali, at her age of 14, was physically and mentally tortured by her husband and in–laws for not being able to meet up the dowry demand. She informed the incidents and sought support from Upazila Women Affairs Officer and got admitted to the Women Support Center (WSC). Since 2006 these WSCs are being operated by the Ministry of Women and Children Affairs (MoWCA) supported by UNFPA. In 2011, under GoB-UN collaborated joint programme to eliminate violence against women (JP VAW), the ministry and UNFPA started working in seven districts to provide services to the survivors of VAW and creating an enabling environment to reduce the discriminatory practices between men and women.
At the WSC, along with shelter, legal aid, counseling and other services Sumi was provided training on sewing activities. With the support of Women Training Centre (WTC), (sewing project of Department of Women Affairs), she completed sewing training successfully within 3 months. She filed a case against her husband and got divorced. The support centre collected tk 1, 50,000 from her husband as mohorana (a payment provided by the husband to the wife if the marriage does not work out, the amount of which is decided at the time of marriage) money. She utilized some of the money to purchase a sewing machine to re-establish herself. Now she is self-employed and is also supporting her mother with the money she is earning by sewing.
Under this JP VAW project, MoWCA and UNFPA together are providing shelter and food, legal aid, psycho-social counseling, life-skill training, emergency medical support, education, recreational support to the survivors of violence against women and girls to make them empowered so that they can re- establish their family, social and economic rights. It also helps to establish linkages with different organizations such as legal based organizations, local administration, Police department, hospitals, clinics, NGOs to create a supportive environment to reduce the discriminatory practices and provide support to the survivors of VAW and girls.
Before this JP VAW, women and girls were not able to come forward to speak against the perpetrators, as there was no such holistic support with one survivor with the survivors where they could fight against VAW issues. With support from JP-VAW, collaboration and networking among different sectors increased, helping each other to provide the best services. This Women Support Centers, under Ministry of Women and Children Affairs provides with a footing and mental courage to fight against VAW together.
Because of the project's initiatives, a good linkage has been established with different sections i.e. with the local administration, organizations, hospitals, law enforcing agencies etc. All of their supports are crucial to get back survivors voices in the family and in the society.