Creating Spaces
Development Project
Creating Spaces
To take action on violence against women and girls
The Situation
Creating Spaces ended in 2021. It was an important project in our work to end violence against women and girls, and child and early forced marriage.
Violence in all its forms deeply harms women, families, communities and economies. Countries in South and East Asia have some of the highest rates of violence against women in the world.
While many countries have established policies and programs to end violence, deeply entrenched values, attitudes and practices slow progress towards violence-free communities.
Gender stereotypes still contribute to violence against women and girls. Domestic violence and marital rape, child, early and forced marriage, and trafficking for sexual exploitation and forced labour threaten the health and freedom of women and girls, and are a violation of their rights.
It takes a village to end violence.
Oxfam works with local organizations, people of all genders, political leaders, law enforcement and institutions to make violence unacceptable.
DETAILS
LOCATION
Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, Nepal, Pakistan, and the Philippines
DURATION
5 years (2016-2021)
Read the program description in French (PDF).
OUR SUPPORTERS
This project was undertaken with the financial support of the Government of Canada, provided through Global Affairs Canada, and the generous Canadian public.
What spaces were created?
Space for Support
We improved access to social services, medical assistance, counselling, job training, and legal aid so women can take control of their lives.
Space for Justice
We worked with legal professionals and community leaders to uphold the rights of women and girls, and we educated women to better understand — and fight for — their right to a life free of violence.
Space for Change
We helped people and institutions learn and adapt approaches to changing attitudes and ending violence against women and girls.
What did we achieve?
This project worked to directly address violence against women and girls and reduce the prevalence of child, early and forced marriage in Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, Pakistan, Philippines and Nepal.
We prevented violence by changing local norms and laws, responded to violence by providing women and girl survivors with support, and improved understanding of violence by strengthening collective efforts and learning across the region.
You can help end violence against women and girls around the world.