Oxfam launches 'We Can' campaign to end violence against women in Bangladesh
21 July 2009

Farhana Hafiz, Oxfam Programme Officer from Bangladesh, was in the UK recently, highlighting the issue of violence against women and explaining how Britons can help tackle it. The 'We Can ' campaign is tackling the issue at all levels – from government and policy right down to attitudes in the home – as part of a wider campaign across South Asia. Oxfam is trying to change the mindset and attitudes that people have towards women. The Bangladesh We Can campaign aims to sign up 1 million Change Makers – individuals who take positive action – by the end of 2011 with 350,000 Change Makers signed up so far.

In signing up, Change Makers agree to take some form of positive action against domestic violence. This could be, for example, to talk to 10 other people in their community about the issue. Hafiz explains that "this kind of action works particularly well in a society like Bangladesh, which has very close families and communities. Because people often live in a house with a large number of family members, one Change Maker in the family can get the message across to a lot of people."

She adds that "In the UK, women do speak up more often, report domestic violence, and seek help and counselling. In Bangladesh, the culture is very different. However, it is true that in Bangladeshi communities in the UK, the same traditional attitudes can be exported, with the result that Bangladeshi women in the UK can face the same issues as back in Bangladesh."

About Farhana Hafiz

Farhana has worked with Oxfam since 2004. She works full time as an Oxfam Programme Officer in Bangladesh. She is 35 years old, and is married with twin 3-year-old daughters. She is from Southern Bangladesh but is now based in Dhaka.

About the 'We Can' Campaign

The We Can campaign is a six-year, six-country, South Asian Campaign to end all violence against women. It aims to stop the violence women endure daily, both within their homes and in the larger society, in Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, India, Nepal, Pakistan and Afghanistan. For further information, visit the campaign website at www.wecanendvaw.org