Dihan Foundation's Initiative for Women's Safety
Every Woman Deserves Safety. Every Woman Deserves a Future Built on Her Own Terms.
DIHAN Foundation delivers women's protection, welfare support, and empowerment programmes across rural Bangladesh and the Chittagong Hill Tracts. We stand beside women living under the burden of gender-based violence, widows left without income or social support, girls forced into marriage before they were old enough to choose their own futures, and every woman whose opportunities have been limited by systems that were never designed to serve her.
Bangladesh has made meaningful progress in advancing gender equality over recent decades. However, for many women living in remote villages and underserved communities, that progress remains out of reach. Across rural regions and the Chittagong Hill Tracts, countless women continue to face barriers to safety, education, economic independence, and equal participation in society.
Gender-Based Violence remains one of the most urgent challenges facing women and girls. According to UN Women, more than 80% of women in Bangladesh experience some form of violence during their lifetime. Physical abuse, sexual violence, and psychological harm are often normalised, while reporting rates remain critically low. Many survivors face disbelief, social stigma, and pressure to remain silent rather than receiving the protection and justice they deserve.
Widowhood and Abandonment often push women into extreme economic insecurity. In many communities, a woman's financial stability depends heavily on her husband. When he passes away, abandons the family, or becomes unable to work, women are frequently left without income, land ownership, savings, or meaningful social protection. Female-headed households are among the most economically vulnerable groups in Bangladesh and often face social exclusion alongside financial hardship.
Economic Dependency continues to limit women's freedom and decision-making power. Access to land ownership, formal employment, financial services, and business opportunities remains heavily unequal. Without independent income, many women are unable to make decisions about their own lives, support their children, or leave situations of violence and exploitation.
Child Marriage remains a significant barrier to gender equality. Nearly six out of ten girls in Bangladesh are married before the age of eighteen. Behind every statistic is a girl whose education was interrupted, whose choices were taken away, and whose future was decided for her. Child marriage is not only a child protection issue—it is a women's rights issue that perpetuates cycles of poverty, violence, and inequality across generations.
DIHAN Foundation believes that lasting change begins by listening to women, protecting their rights, and creating opportunities that enable them to lead independent, dignified lives. Through awareness campaigns, community engagement, welfare support, skills development, and protection initiatives, we are working to build a future where every woman can live free from violence, access equal opportunities, and shape her own destiny with confidence and hope.