Final Evaluation: Prevention of all forms of violence against women and girls with disabilities in Bangladesh (PROVA) 

Location: Bangladesh 

Grantee: Asian-Pacific Resource and Research Centre for Women (ARROW) 

Grant period: 1 December 2019 - 30 November 2022 

Grant amount: USD 500,000 

Authors/editors: NextSkills  

Publication year: 2023 

The Asian-Pacific Resource and Research Center for Women (ARROW) implemented a three-year project, “Prevention of all forms of violence against women and girls with disabilities in Bangladesh (PROVA)”, with the support of the UN Trust Fund. The project aimed to: 

• ensure access to justice for women and girls living with disabilities (WGWD) facing violence, abuse, neglect, discrimination and exploitation through increasing community support for WGWD, advocacy for WGWD’s sexual and reproductive health and rights, and encouraging government to uphold its commitments towards the rights of WGWD.  

The final evaluation found that the project had increased awareness and knowledge of, and support for, disability rights while effectively addressing abuse and improving the reproductive health of WGWD. 

Main findings of the evaluation:  

• WGWD gained a better understanding of disability rights, avenues for recourse in cases of abuse, and reproductive health, leading to a significant decrease in familial violence against them. 
• The project's comprehensive interventions, inclusive training programmes and engagement with stakeholders made a substantial long-term contribution to the promotion of the rights of WGWD. 
• Over 81% of women in 10 union councils reported feeling more aware of sexual and reproductive health and rights, and had become more aware about their menstruation. 
• The project increased awareness about the challenges faced by WGWD and created a supportive environment where they could feel safe and secure.  
• Nearly 95% of survey respondents believed that the incidence of violence against WGWD had decreased in their community since the project's implementation.