Project Information

PROJECT TITLE

Body Talk 2.0

Abbreviation

BT 2.0

PROJECT BRIEF 
 (Narrative – 500 words max including project aim/goal, approach, beneficiaries, intended changes etc.) 

Children and youth with disabilities in Bangladesh face multiple and intersecting barriers that limit their access to their rights, particularly their Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR). Although Bangladesh has ratified the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) and enacted the Persons with Disabilities Rights and Protection Act (2013), the SRHR needs and rights of children and youth with disabilities remain insufficiently addressed in national strategies, programmes, and services.

Social stigma, discriminatory cultural practices, and widespread misconceptions often portray persons with disabilities as asexual, dependent, or incapable of making decisions about their own bodies and lives. This lack of recognition increases their vulnerability to gender-based violence (GBV), forced marriage, exploitation, and reproductive decisions being made without their informed consent. Most schools and institutions do not adequately integrate disability-inclusive Comprehensive Sexuality Education (CSE), leaving children and youth with disabilities with limited knowledge and skills to understand their bodies, rights, relationships, and available services. SRHR-related health services are also often inaccessible, both physically and socially, while service providers have limited training on responding to the specific needs of children and youth with disabilities. Girls and young women with disabilities face additional barriers due to the intersection of gender and disability.

Building on the experience of the Kishori SRHR Project (2018–2021) and lessons learned from the Body Talk initiative, the proposed project aims to expand inclusive SRHR interventions in the targeted communities. The project will use a rights-based, gender-responsive, disability-inclusive, and community-based approach, engaging children and youth with disabilities, families, schools, community actors, service providers, and other relevant stakeholders.

In Bangladesh on the national level the project will work with One Stop Crisis Centres (OCCs) who are primarily run under the Ministry of Women and Children Affairs (MoWCA), Upzila Health complex, (Ministry of health).

The project aims to reach at least 1,200 children and youth with disabilities aged 11–25 in the target areas, to ensure that children and youth with disabilities (CYWD) have quality access to SRHR information and services, and are protected from SGBV, so they can exercise their bodily autonomy in safe, supportive, and inclusive environments.

This is a three-country programme including Indonesia, Philippines and Bangladesh.

Objectives/Outcomes/Long-term Results

Outcome 1: CYWD are empowered to uphold their bodily autonomy and make informed choices about their sexual and reproductive health.

Outcome 2: Families of CYWD are empowered to actively promote their children’s protection, autonomy and meaningful participation in SRHR.

Outcome 3: Society and community acknowledge and support CYWD to exercise their SRHR and be protected from SGBV.

Outcome 4: Institutions and service providers (schools, health facilities, police, legal and social services, etc.) deliver disability-inclusive, rights-based SRHR information and services in a safe, accessible, and coordinated manner.

Outcome 5: Convince the program partners and government institutions, from the national to local level, to embed inclusive and accessible SRHR, child protection (SGBV), and safeguarding in their policies and practices.

Major Activities

NAME OF DONOR(S)

Stichting Liliane Fonds

PROJECT DURATION

January 2026 to December 2028

Starting Date

01 January, 2026

Ending Date

31 December, 2028

PROJECT CONTACT DETAILS

Contact Person’s Name

Farzana Bari

Designation

Project Manager

Email address

cdd.farzana@gmail.com

Phone Number

+8801742018383

PROJECT LOCATION

Division(s)

Khulna

District(s)

Jashore

Upazila(s) / Thana(s)

N/A

City Corporation(s)

Jashore

Municipality(ies)

Jashore Municipality

Ward(s)

N/A

Union(s)

Jashore Municipality, Arabpur, Nowapara, Chanchra, Fathehpur, Upasahar, Ramnagar, Churamankati, Haibatpur, Kashimpur, Diara, Ichhali, and Lebutala.

NAME OF PARTNER ORGANISATION(S) 
 (If applicable)

Banchte Shekha (BS) and Barinagar Samaj Kalyan Sangstha (BSKS)

TOTAL BUDGET IN BDT

BDT 7,77,05,591/- (For Bangladesh)

TARGET BENEFICIARIES;
 Total number only

N/A

Direct Beneficiaries

1,200 (11-25 Years old children and youth with disabilities)

Indirect Beneficiaries

2,000