Connecting Dots: Exposing VAW through Open Data, Anonymous Reporting & Right to Information Act

Project Summary:

Despite progress in various development indicators, violence against women (VAW) remains a persistent issue in Bangladesh. Many cases go unreported due to fear of stigma, inadequate law enforcement, and the absence of safe reporting mechanisms. Additionally, existing data on VAW is fragmented, making it difficult for policymakers, civil society organizations (CSOs), and media to address the issue effectively.

To bridge this gap, the “Connecting Dots” project aims to create a comprehensive, open-data platform that consolidates information on VAW from government sources, media reports, anonymous social media listening, and surveys. The project will introduce a secure and anonymous reporting tool, enabling women to safely report incidents of violence and harassment without fear of retaliation. By leveraging the Right to Information (RTI) Act, the project will collect police data on reported VAW cases and make it accessible for research, advocacy, and media reporting.

A key focus of the project is to foster collaboration between journalists and CSOs to produce data-driven, interactive reports on VAW. Media professionals, particularly women journalists, will be trained in data journalism and fact-checking techniques to ensure sensitive and accurate reporting. The project will also engage Youth Ambassadors from 30 schools, colleges, and universities in Chattogram to promote awareness and encourage safe reporting among young women.

Through these efforts, Connecting Dots seeks to empower survivors, strengthen advocacy, and promote evidence-based policymaking. The project will also identify VAW hotspots, helping stakeholders design targeted interventions to prevent violence. By integrating digital tools, ethical data collection, and media collaboration, this initiative aspires to create a safer, more informed society where women and girls can report violence without fear and access the support they need.

Goal:

To combat violence against women (VAW) in Bangladesh by leveraging open data and digital tools to enhance understanding, media reporting, and evidence-based advocacy.

Objectives:

  1. Create a central hub of VAW data from government and non-government sources, news reports, anonymized social media listening, and surveys.
  2. Develop an anonymous reporting tool for women to safely report incidents of violence or harassment.
  3. Enable collaboration between media and civil society organizations (CSOs) for data-driven interactive reporting on VAW.
  4. Provide VAW trend analyses to support effective reporting and advocacy.
  5. Promote the use of open data to improve media engagement, policy discussions, and survivor support.

Target Groups & Beneficiaries:

  • Working women and girls from schools, colleges, and universities.
  • Youth Ambassadors from 15 institutions will advocate for awareness and reporting.
  • Journalists, policymakers, NGOs, and researchers.

Expected Outcomes:

  • Improved understanding of the nature and scale of VAW occurrences in Bangladesh, with emphasis on Chattogram.
  • Increase in data-driven content on VAW in media.
  • Strengthened advocacy tools powered by data visualizations.
  • Safer reporting channels for survivors to share experiences.

Key Activities:

1. Data Collection & Analysis:

  • Gather VAW data from police reports, NGOs, news articles, and social media.
  • Conduct two surveys in 30 educational institutions and workplaces in Chattogram.
  • Clean and analyze data to identify patterns and trends.

2. Development of Anonymous Reporting Tool:

  • Design a secure and accessible digital platform for women to report VAW incidents anonymously.
  • Ensure confidentiality through data encryption and privacy safeguards.
  • Offer survivors access to resources and legal/psychological support.

3. Capacity Building & Awareness Programs:

  • Train 35 journalists in Dhaka and Chattogram on using the Right to Information (RTI) Act for accessing VAW-related data.
  • Conduct training sessions for women on how to use the anonymous reporting tool.
  • Organize knowledge-sharing sessions for Youth Ambassadors to promote safe reporting.
  • Provide Psychosocial and legal support to VAW victims connected through the reporting tool.

4. Media & Advocacy Efforts:

  • Develop a VAW data hub featuring interactive charts and maps.
  • Train 30 women journalists in data-driven reporting and fact-checking.
  • Publish data-driven reports in national and regional media.
  • Award six journalists for outstanding data-driven gender reporting.

5. Policy & Stakeholder Engagement:

  • Collaborate with CSOs and policymakers to improve VAW intervention strategies.
  • Use RTI data to highlight gaps in law enforcement responses.
  • Organize community discussions and advocacy campaigns to challenge social stigmas around VAW reporting.

6. Monitoring & Evaluation:

  • Track data sources, reporting tool usage, and media engagement.
  • Conduct a mid-term evaluation to assess trends and refine project strategies.
  • Perform a final impact assessment to measure improvements in VAW reporting, policy changes, and survivor support.

Sustainability Measures:

  • Dataful will maintain and update the data hub and anonymous reporting platform beyond the project period.
  • Efforts to secure continued funding from donors and government agencies.
  • Open-access data sharing through a Creative Commons license for long-term impact.
  • Ongoing collaboration between media, CSOs, and policymakers for sustained advocacy.