Violence Against Women and Girls in Relation to Access to Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene Facilities

Abstract

This study investigates the critical nexus between violence against women and girls (VAWG) and access to water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) facilities in urban low- income communities, with a specific focus on Dhaka, Bangladesh. Globally, over 2.2 billion people lack access to safely managed drinking water, disproportionately affecting marginalized urban populations. Women and girls in these settings face heightened risks of gender-based violence due to inadequate WASH infrastructure, such as distant water sources and unsafe sanitation facilities. In Bangladesh, rapid urbanization has exacerbated these challenges, with studies indicating that 85% of women in urban slums experience some form of VAWG, often linked to WASH access. This research addresses the intersection of WASH deficiencies and VAWG, highlighting the role of gender inequalities and socio-economic marginalization in perpetuating vulnerability.