Creating Spaces Impact

by Oxfam Canada | September 26, 2019
Background media: Pollisree officials pose as 'empowered women' in Rangpur, Bangladesh as part of Oxfam Canada's Creating Spaces project. Creating Spaces takes action to reduce violence against women and girls (VAWG), including child, early and forced marriage (CEFM) in 6 countries - Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, Pakistan, Philippines, and Nepal - by helping change the attitudes, behaviours, and systems that perpetuate violence against women and girls. Photo: Abir Abdullah/Oxfam
Photo: Abir Abdullah/Oxfam

Creating Spaces Impact

by Oxfam Canada | September 26, 2019
Background media: Three Bangladeshi women wearing colourful clothing stare directly at the camera while raising their left arm in an "I can do this" gesture.
Photo: Abir Abdullah/Oxfam

Creating Spaces ended in 2021. It was an important project in our work to end violence against women and girls, and child and early forced marriage. 

Violence in all its forms deeply harms women, families, communities and economies. Countries in South and East Asia have some of the highest rates of violence against women in the world.

It takes a village to end violence. Oxfam works with local organizations, people of all genders, political leaders, law enforcement and institutions to make violence unacceptable.

While many countries have established policies and programs to end violence, deeply entrenched values, attitudes and practices slow progress towards violence-free communities. Gender stereotypes still contribute to violence against women and girls.

Domestic violence and marital rape, child, early and forced marriage, and trafficking for sexual exploitation and forced labour threaten the health and freedom of women and girls, and are a violation of their rights.

Through Creating Spaces, we prevented violence by changing local norms and laws, responded to violence by providing women and girl survivors with support, and improved understanding of violence by strengthening collective efforts and learning across the region.

To learn more about the project's progress and impact, see our resources section.

Our resources and publications are available in accessible formats. Please reach out to us at to make a request.


This project was undertaken with the financial support of the Government of Canada, provided through Global Affairs Canada, and the generous Canadian public.

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The Creating Spaces Story

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