In India, Nepal and Bangladesh, women and girls face significant challenges in accessing their freedoms and fulfilling their potential. Deeply entrenched cultural norms and systemic inequalities restrict their opportunities, excluding them from decision-making within their families and communities and limiting their access to education and employment. These barriers create a cycle of vulnerability, hindering not only individual women and girls but also the progress of entire communities.
Widely accepted gender-biased beliefs further marginalise women and girls across South Asia, creating multiple barriers to their empowerment and access to basic rights. In this blog post, we’ll discuss the obstacles Indian, Nepali and Bangladeshi women and girls face, the root causes of this gender inequality, the importance and potential impact of championing female empowerment in India, Nepal and Bangladesh and the reasons that Karuna is working with our partners to support women and girls now and for generations to come.
The Challenges Faced by Women and Girls In South Asia
Navigating Barriers: the Reality of Women’s Access to Empowerment in India, Nepal and Bangladesh
Cultural Obstacles: Deep-Rooted Traditions and Societal Expectations
Many modern examples of female empowerment in India, Nepal and Bangladesh are hindered by long-entrenched cultural beliefs that undermine women’s and girls’ roles in society.
These deeply ingrained beliefs often manifest as discriminatory practices, such as early marriage, limited access to education and restrictions on women’s mobility and decision-making power. These beliefs also reinforce existing power structures that benefit men and disadvantage women, creating systemic barriers to equality in all spheres of their lives. These cultural norms also often intersect with economic factors, such as poverty and lack of access to resources, further marginalising women and limiting their opportunities for growth and development.
When girls are denied access to education their potential is stifled from a young age. At Karuna, we believe that education is life-saving, so it’s essential that all genders have the option to attend schools and the opportunity to learn and expand their skill sets to build a future. And, when women face reduced access to employment and economic opportunities, they are vulnerable to exploitation and poverty, severely reducing their ability to empower themselves and live independently. These are just some of the critical issues Karuna and our partners address in our project work across South Asia.
Image of a Chhaupadi hut
For example, in Nepal, the dangerous tradition of Chhaupadi (menstrual exile) isolates women and girls during their periods, denying them access to essential resources like education, healthcare and even the safety of their own homes. This practice, which denies girls and women their basic dignity and excludes them from their communities, is rooted in the outdated belief that women are ‘impure’ while they menstruate. This is a stark example of how societal beliefs and cultural traditions can severely impact women and girls in Nepal. Learn more about Chhaupadi and how we’re working to end menstrual exile on our blog.
Similarly, in India, child marriage continues to rob young girls of their childhoods and futures, further compounded by a lack of access to education. Women and girls in India are also impacted by human trafficking, often being targeted when they are travelling to cities either to escape abusive homes or in search of work. They are commonly forced into unpaid labour, sexual exploitation or even sold while being moved over country borders, endangering their lives.
Women across South Asia are also disempowered by sexual violence within their homes and communities and are the least likely to be able to access their basic rights and protections. One of our projects, in partnership with the Maitri Network, works across 22 districts in seven states across India to provide social and legal support for female survivors of sexual violence. The focus of these projects is to strengthen networks and organisations, ensuring they can operate more effectively. We support women to advocate for themselves and raise awareness so they can live free from violence, promoting gender equality and women’s legal security. This work also centres around challenging gender-biased beliefs among boys and men in the community, questioning the status quo and encouraging a shift in traditional attitudes towards women and girls.
In Bangladesh, women and girls’ challenges are often intertwined with poverty and migration caused by the extreme effects of climate change that devastates the poor, isolated rural areas of Bangladesh the most severely. Women and girls are frequently undermined within their homes and communities due to traditional cultural norms, taking away their autonomy and access to education, healthcare and economic opportunities, leaving them unable to empower themselves to live independently from their male counterparts. Many women and girls end up forced into exploitative labour, sometimes even child labour, highlighting the urgent need to ensure they are protected.
These issues underscore the importance of female empowerment in India, Nepal and Bangladesh. Empowering women is not just about addressing individual injustices; it’s about creating a ripple effect that transforms entire communities. When women and girls are empowered and protected, they are better equipped to advocate for their rights, access education and healthcare and contribute to the economic and social development of their wider communities.
At Karuna, we believe that championing female empowerment in Bangladesh, Nepal and India can create a safer, more equitable world for everyone.
Legal Inequalities: Laws and Enforcement Challenges
In addition to the cultural beliefs and societal expectations placed on women and girls that hinder their progress, many systemic and legal inequalities present challenges to female empowerment in Nepal, India and Bangladesh. Existing legislation often proves inadequate in protecting women and girls, and even when laws and policies exist, their enforcement remains weak or non-existent, perpetuating gender inequality. We’ll cover some examples below.
Menstrual Exile (Chhaupadi)
The Supreme Court of Nepal outlawed the practice of menstrual exile in 2005, and in 2017 the ‘Anti-Chhaupadi Law’, officially known as the ‘The Safe Motherhood and Menstruation Rights Act 2075’, was passed, criminalising the practice. The law punishes individuals who force women into exile during menstruation with up to three months in jail or a fine of 3,000 Nepalese rupees. This piece of legislation marks significant legal progress in protecting women and girls in Nepal.
However, enforcement of the law can be challenging due to deeply ingrained cultural beliefs and limited resources, especially in remote, rural areas, so the harmful and isolating practice still continues, particularly in western regions of Nepal. It’s critical that not just the government but also local leaders, stakeholders, community members, family members and individuals work together to raise awareness about the harmful effects of Chhaupadi, changing societal attitudes towards menstruation and instead empowering and protecting women and girls within their communities.
Trafficking
India, Nepal and Bangladesh all have legislation in place that aims to combat the trafficking of women and girls. However, despite its existence, human trafficking remains a significant and persistent problem. Girls and young women in particular are alarmingly vulnerable to trafficking, often being lured or coerced into forced labour, domestic servitude or sexual exploitation.
Across South Asia, anti-trafficking legislation faces several challenges in its effective implementation. These include:
- Lack of awareness
Many victims and potential victims are unaware of their rights and the legal recourse available to them.
- Inadequate resources
Law enforcement agencies often lack the resources and training to effectively investigate and prosecute trafficking cases.
- Corruption
Corruption within law enforcement and government agencies can hinder investigations and impede justice for victims.
- Cross-border trafficking
The transnational nature of human trafficking poses significant challenges for law enforcement agencies in coordinating investigations and prosecutions across borders.
These factors contribute to a low conviction rate for human trafficking cases, leaving many victims without justice and perpetrators unpunished. There is much work to be done to reduce the risk of human trafficking and protect people, especially empowering women and girls across South Asia to be able to move around safely and independently.
Dowry Abuse
The tradition of dowry in Bangladesh is a serious issue despite the existence of the Dowry Prohibition Act of 2018. This Act criminalises the giving, taking or demanding of dowry in marriage. Dowry, defined as any property or valuable security given as a consideration for marriage, commodifies women and places financial burdens on their families. This practice perpetuates gender inequality and can lead to domestic violence, abuse, and even death in extreme cases.
Despite the existence of this law, effectively enforcing it remains a significant challenge. Deep-rooted social norms and cultural practices surrounding dowry continue to normalise and perpetuate this harmful tradition. Many women are reluctant to report dowry-related offences due to fear of social stigma, family pressure, or lack of faith in the legal system. Additionally, corruption and under-resourcing within the law enforcement and judicial systems can hinder the prosecution of offenders.
These challenges have severe consequences for Bangladeshi women and girls. Dowry demands can lead to financial strain on families, forcing them into debt or even poverty. Women who fail to meet dowry expectations may face physical, emotional and psychological abuse from their in-laws. In extreme cases, they may even become victims of domestic violence, including honour killings. The continued prevalence of dowry undermines female empowerment and access to equality, dignity and a life free from violence.
Economic Opportunities
The Labor Act of 2017 in Nepal is a significant piece of legislation aimed at protecting workers, including women. It explicitly prohibits discrimination in employment based on gender, mandates equal pay for equal work and provides for maternity leave and other benefits such as flexible working arrangements and childcare facilities for female employees.
Despite this Act’s progressive intentions, women still face significant challenges in accessing many of these basic legal rights. Weak enforcement mechanisms hinder effective implementation, and governing bodies often lack the resources to adequately monitor compliance and address violations.
Limited awareness among employers and employees, particularly in rural areas, contributes to non-compliance. Many are unaware of what the Act mandates, leading to the legal requirements being disregarded. A large portion of Nepal’s workforce, especially women, is employed in the largely unregulated informal sector. This limits the Act’s reach and effectiveness, as it excludes many workers from its protections. These challenges impede women’s economic empowerment and perpetuate gender inequality in the Nepali workforce.
Climate Change
The Bangladeshi government has taken steps to address the intersection of climate change and female empowerment through the Bangladesh Climate Change Strategy and Action Plan (BCCSAP) and the Climate Change and Gender Action Plan (BCCGAP). These plans recognise the disproportionate impact of climate change on women and aim to empower women in climate change decision-making, address their specific vulnerabilities, and integrate gender considerations into all climate actions. For instance, the BCCGAP specifically focuses on strengthening women’s leadership in climate action by increasing their representation in decision-making bodies, improving their access to information and resources, and developing strategies to address gender-based violence exacerbated by climate change.
While these plans are well-intentioned, several obstacles hinder their successful implementation. Limited resources, lack of awareness among both policymakers and women themselves and weak enforcement mechanisms can impede the effective implementation of these plans. Furthermore, deeply ingrained patriarchal norms and social inequalities can limit women’s access to resources, their participation in decision-making and their ability to benefit from climate change adaptation and mitigation measures. Overcoming these challenges requires a multi-pronged approach, including increased investment in gender-responsive climate action, strengthening women’s organisations, raising awareness about how women are affected by climate change, and ensuring the effective implementation and monitoring of existing laws and policies.
| You can learn more about the work we’re doing to support women and other marginalised people affected by climate change in this article: Addressing Climate Vulnerability: Working towards disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation with communities in South Asia |
The Importance of Female Empowerment
Why Empowering Women and Girls in India, Nepal, and Bangladesh Matters
For centuries across South Asia, including India, Nepal and Bangladesh, women and girls have been conditioned to believe in male authority. A 2016 survey in India revealed a disturbing reality: 52% of women, a higher percentage than men (42%), believed that husbands had the right to beat their wives under certain circumstances, such as leaving the house without permission or failing to cook properly. This stark statistic underscores the deep-rooted gender inequality in South Asian cultures. It highlights the critical importance of the female empowerment movement in these countries. To truly champion women and girls, it’s crucial to empower them, instilling the belief that they deserve fair treatment, safety, and the freedom to live their lives on their own terms.
The Ripple Effect: Benefits for Girls, Women, Families, Communities and Societies
The effects of female empowerment in India, Nepal, Bangladesh and across South Asia can be far-reaching and transformative on an individual level, within family dynamics, wider communities and at a societal level, impacting politics and how societies operate.
The positive outcomes of empowering women and girls cannot be overstated. We believe this starts with working in communities to change attitudes and supporting to live with dignity and independence.
Through our project work in Nepal, Bangladesh and India, we’ve worked with our partners and local communities to empower women and girls, supporting them in making strides in accessing opportunities and transforming their lives.
Some examples of the ways that working together to empower women and girls can have a wider ripple effect include:
- Education
96% of children involved with Karuna-supported projects continued their education past 14. Our continued focus on ensuring girls access education and attend school has helped change attitudes around child marriage, reducing its prevalence and protecting young girls. Staying in education also brings increased economic opportunities for women, is an effective tool for prevention against forced labour and brings improved health outcomes for families.
- Economic empowerment
Many of our projects provide women with skills training, enabling them to diversify their capabilities and find better-paid work. This leads to financial independence, increased income for families, poverty reduction, and investment back into communities. Our Mahali Samman project in Nepal supported 350 people in increasing their livelihoods.
- Health, safety and protection
Many of our projects focus on ensuring women and girls have better access to basic healthcare, significantly improving their health and well-being and that of their families, ultimately saving lives. Our project work in Nepal and India also improves menstrual health awareness and hygiene and reduces women’s and girls’ vulnerability to trafficking and violence. Between 2023 and 2024, we reached 31,000 women and girls across South Asia with legal protection initiatives.
- Social change
A core aspect of our work focuses on shifting attitudes towards gender equality and dismantling harmful cultural practices. This includes working with men and boys in communities as well as women to bring about meaningful change. The impact of challenging gender-biased beliefs is far-reaching, bringing about lasting change in which women and girls are treated as equals within society. Our work in Nepal has resulted in a 74% decrease in harmful Chhaupadi practices in our Green Tara project areas, showing that change is possible.
Breaking the Cycle: How to Empower Women in India, Nepal and Bangladesh and Create a Better Future
Gender inequality creates a cycle of disadvantage that limits the potential of empowered women in South Asia. Breaking this cycle requires a multi-pronged approach that prioritises empowering young women in India, Nepal and Bangladesh. Investing in quality education for girls is paramount, equipping them with the knowledge and skills necessary to thrive in a changing world.
Our female empowerment campaigns in India, Nepal and Bangladesh focus on challenging traditional norms that limit women’s roles and opportunities. By promoting economic empowerment initiatives, such as access to vocational training and financial services, we can enable women to become financially independent and contribute to their families and communities.
On our blog, you can learn about the ways that Karuna is working to overcome gender inequality in South Asia. We cover our partners’ projects that support women and girls across India, Nepal and Bangladesh.
Female empowerment must be prioritised across India, Bangladesh and Nepal. This requires a concerted effort to combat violence against women and girls and ensure their safety and security. By strengthening legal frameworks, improving access to justice and raising awareness about gender-based violence and human trafficking, we can create a safer and more equitable society for all women.
Empowering women and girls is not merely an act of social justice; it is an investment in the future of South Asia. By breaking the cycle of disadvantage and creating a more equitable society, we unlock the full potential of women and girls, leading to a more prosperous and inclusive future for everyone.
Support Karuna’s Work With Women and Girls in South Asia
Making a Difference: How Your Support Empowers Women and Girls
The challenges facing women and girls in India, Nepal and Bangladesh are deeply rooted in systemic issues and deeply ingrained societal norms. However, change is not only possible but also underway. Witnessing the resilience and strength of women and girls across South Asia is truly inspiring. Despite the obstacles they face, they continue to strive for a better future.
Karuna is committed to supporting these individuals and the organisations working tirelessly to empower them. By choosing to support Karuna, you are investing in a brighter future – a future where women and girls have the freedom to fulfil their potential, contribute to their communities and live lives free from discrimination and violence.
This requires a collective and consistent effort. By joining forces with Karuna and our dedicated partners, you can amplify our impact and create a ripple effect of positive change. Your support enables us to provide access to education, improve health outcomes and foster economic independence for women, girls and their wider communities. By partnering with local grassroots organisations already embedded in their local areas, Karuna ensures that our efforts are culturally sensitive and truly address the unique needs of each community. Together, we can dismantle the barriers that hold women and girls back, creating a more just and equitable future for everyone.
Help us create change for empowered women and girls in India, Nepal and Bangladesh and transform the lives of entire communities by becoming a regular supporter today. Please donate now.
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Check out more of our articles about the work we’re doing with our partner across South Asia on our blog:
How Child Marriage Creates Barriers to Female Education in South Asia
Ways that Karuna is Working to Overcome Gender Inequality in South Asia
Sustaining change: why locally led development works – but funding models hold it back
How to Build a Meditation Practice with Tips from the Karuna Team
The Challenges Faced by Migrant Workers in South Asia
Menstrual Exile: The Dangers of Chhaupadi in Nepal and What it Means for Women and Girls
