SNV brings its broad and long-standing experience in private sector engagement to the Shojag (Awaken) Coalition, aiming to reduce gender-based violence in the garment (RMG) industry in Bangladesh.

Women form an overwhelming majority (85%) of the RMG workforce in Bangladesh. However, efforts to protect their rights in the workplace are relatively low. Women accept jobs under harsh and challenging conditions, being subjected to discrimination on many fronts, including sexual harassment, denial of maternity leave or benefits.

The Shojag Coalition is running a two and a half years project (September 2017-February 2020) financed by the  Global Fund for Women to reduce gender-based violence in the garment industry. The Shojag coalition consists of five organisations - Naripokkho, Christian Aid, BRAC, Bangladesh Legal Aid and Services Trust (BLAST) and SNV, working together to reduce gender-based violence in the garment industry by raising awareness, strengthening the capacity of accountable private and public bodies, protecting the rights and legal entitlements of female workers and engaging factories towards promoting systemic changes across the garment sector.

The project is being implemented in the city of Gazipur, Savar, Ashulia and Tongi. Direct beneficiaries of this initiative are female garment workers and indirectly factories who will benefit from an increased productivity in a violence-free working environment. The project’s holistic approach will also address domestic violence, sexual harassment and violence against women commuting to/from work.

As an implementing partner of the Shojag project, SNV will leverage its expertise and engage with selected RMG factories and female workers to introduce, improve and strengthen policies and procedures to reduce gender-based violence in the workplace. The project will focus on the root causes of gender-based violence and address unequal power relations by raising awareness and strengthening structural mechanisms to prevent violence and sexual harassment in the workplace, including support and protection mechanisms.