NETZ Bangladesch Annual Report 2017

Dear Reader,
52 percent of young girls in Bangladesh
are married off before reaching
the age of 18, although there is a
law that prohibits this practice. This
is one of the highest rates globally.
The consequences are often devastating:
girls drop out of school. The
marriages are often shaped by violence
and abuses. The likelihood of
a 14-year-old girl dying while giving
birth is five times higher compared to
20-24 year-old women.
The causes of child marriage are manifold.
Apart from poverty, cultural traditions
play a major role. Through
early marriage parents hope to spare
their daughters from physical harm
and a loss of honour. And the law
allows for “exceptions” far too often.
All NETZ-supported projects contribute
to a reduction of child marriage.
Women taking part in the sustainable
livelihoods programme get active,
when they get to know that an early
marriage is planned in their neighbourhood.
Teachers and school committees
support parents to prevent
their daughters from dropping out of
school. Activists of the human rights
programme inform people in the villages
about and intervene with marriage
registrars when birth certificates
are falsified.
Furthermore this annual report
informs how our partners and we get
active for the right to education and
the right to nutrition. 200,000 people
have a better nutrition. 29,000 girls
and boys especially from very disadvantaged
families received quality education
in school.
I want to thank everyone contributing
to this. Teachers, parents’ committees,
human rights defenders, social
workers, auditors in Bangladesh and
India, volunteers in Germany, Austria
and Switzerland, donors, institutional
donors, companies and private foundations
as well as all staff members of
NETZ.
We want to continue our commitment
for the rights of girls and against
discrimination.
Peter Dietzel,
Executive Director
Please join us
– together for
Bangladesh.
Photo: Peter Dietzel
€
From each single Euro NETZ uses
84 Cent for direct changes in Bangladesh cet
5 Cent for global learning and international understanding%
11 Cent for necessary administration and public relations according to DZI guidelines /
»Genuine contribution to human rights
NETZ is one of the most genuine partners
of many development organisations in
Bangladesh, which make women’s empowerment
possible and thus set a good
example.
Together for Bangladesh
Together with local partners, NETZ significantly
contributes to prevent child marriage. This issue
currently receives high public interest in Bang-
«
ladesh and is an important part of supporting
human rights, especially those of women.
3
I wish NETZ all the
best for the future.
Sultana Kamal,
Human rights defender