Every Woman Deserves Safety.
Every Woman Deserves A Future Built On Her Own Terms.
DIHAN Foundation works across rural Bangladesh and the Chittagong Hill Tracts to protect women, prevent violence, strengthen economic independence, and create opportunities for women and girls to live with dignity, equality, and hope.
64
Districts100%
Human DignitySDG 5
Gender Equality
The Weight Women Carry
Bangladesh has made significant progress toward gender equality, yet millions of women continue to face barriers that limit their safety, independence, and opportunities. Across rural communities and the Chittagong Hill Tracts, women still experience gender-based violence, economic dependency, child marriage, social exclusion, and unequal access to education and justice.
For many women, poverty is only one part of the challenge. Violence, discrimination, abandonment, and the absence of legal protection create a cycle that is difficult to escape. Women who lose their husbands often lose their income, their homes, and even their place within society. Girls married before adulthood frequently lose their education and the freedom to decide their own future.
At DIHAN Foundation, we believe every woman deserves safety, equal opportunity, and the ability to shape her own future. Our programmes combine protection, welfare support, legal awareness, psychosocial care, livelihood assistance, and community engagement to help women rebuild confidence, strengthen resilience, and achieve lasting independence.
The Weight Women Carry
Although Bangladesh has made important progress towards gender equality, millions of women continue to face barriers that limit their safety, independence, and opportunities. In many rural communities and across the Chittagong Hill Tracts, women remain vulnerable to violence, poverty, social exclusion, and discrimination.
Gender-Based Violence
More than 80% of women in Bangladesh experience some form of gender-based violence during their lifetime. Many survivors never report abuse because they fear stigma, isolation, or lack confidence in available support systems. Violence continues to affect women's physical safety, mental health, and long-term wellbeing.
Widowhood & Abandonment
Thousands of widows and abandoned women suddenly lose financial security, housing, and social protection. Without stable income or legal support, many struggle simply to provide food, education, and healthcare for their children while facing social exclusion within their communities.
Economic Dependency
Limited access to employment, property ownership, banking services, and business opportunities leaves many women financially dependent on others. Without economic independence, women often have fewer choices and reduced ability to escape violence or invest in their families' future.
Child Marriage
Nearly six out of ten girls in Bangladesh are married before reaching the age of eighteen. Child marriage interrupts education, limits future opportunities, increases health risks, and contributes to lifelong economic dependence and inequality.
Women of the Chittagong Hill Tracts
Indigenous women living in the Chittagong Hill Tracts often face multiple forms of disadvantage. Geographic isolation, historical inequality, limited services, and reduced access to education and employment make their challenges even greater than those experienced elsewhere.
Breaking the Cycle
These issues are deeply connected. Poverty increases vulnerability, violence limits opportunity, and inequality continues across generations. Supporting women today helps protect children, strengthen families, and build healthier communities for tomorrow.
Our Focus Areas
Comprehensive initiatives working toward gender equality and women's dignity
Child Marriage Prevention
Working directly with communities, mothers, and girls to prevent child marriage through education, awareness, and family engagement.
Livelihood Support & Economic Independence
Skills training, microfinance, and income-generating opportunities to break the cycle of economic dependency and vulnerability.
Women's Rights & Legal Awareness
Educating women about their legal rights, property rights, protection from violence, and access to justice.
Indigenous Women of the Chittagong Hill Tracts
Dedicated programmes addressing the unique and compounded challenges faced by indigenous women in the CHT.
Psychosocial Support
Trauma-informed mental health support for women experiencing domestic violence, grief, and psychological distress.
Women's Leadership & Community Voice
Training and supporting women to become community leaders, advocates, and change-makers in their own societies.
Our Impact
Of Bangladeshi women have experienced gender-based violence
Of girls married before age 18
Of women without economic independence
Districts covered by our outreach networks
Special focus on Indigenous Women of the Chittagong Hill Tracts
Our Standards
All programmes follow international best practices and standards
"She asked whether there was any way her daughter could go back to school.
That was all she asked for."
DIHAN Foundation will not stop until every woman in Bangladesh is safe, economically independent, and free.
Because a Bangladesh where women are free is a Bangladesh where everyone is free.
Their Fight. Our Foundation.
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