Political commitment, structural changes needed to end gender-based violence: Experts

Gender-based violence against women and adolescent girls in Bangladesh is a deep-rooted structural and social problem that cannot be resolved through laws alone, speakers said at a roundtable discussion today (18 December). 

They stressed the need for long-term research, strong political commitment, effective state mechanisms and widespread social awareness to address the crisis sustainably.

The roundtable, titled "Violence Against Women", was jointly organised by Badabon Sangho and The Business Standard at the TBS conference room. The discussion was moderated by Saleem Ahmed, Associate Editor of The Business Standard.

Human rights activist Zakia Shishir said that despite the existence of multiple laws and international conventions, Bangladesh continues to face serious gaps in implementation. 

She pointed out that migrant women moving to cities to work as domestic workers or garment workers are frequently subjected to physical, mental, sexual and economic violence, much of which remains unreported.

She said, "Having laws is not enough. Citizens, NGOs and especially the media must be responsible. Involving religious and social leaders in awareness-building efforts is also very important."

Nazma Akter, executive director of Awaj Foundation, said women workers migrating from rural areas to cities due to climate change are among the most vulnerable groups. Low wages, informal workplaces and discriminatory social attitudes perpetuate violence and harassment against them, she added.

She noted that Bangladesh's ratification of the ILO Convention 190 on violence and harassment at work is a major milestone, but stressed that effective laws and policies are now required to ensure its proper implementation.

In the discussion, Saleem Ahmed said incidents of violence against women and girls dominate daily news headlines – on buses, streets, workplaces and within homes. The harassment women face while commuting to work, studying or working in offices is not isolated; it has become a normalised reality, adding that migrant women are particularly at risk.

He said, even after 54 years, we have failed to build a society where a woman can safely take a bus to work in the morning.

He further said that while there is no shortage of laws, structural weaknesses in implementation persist. Limitations in emergency services such as 999, slow response systems and a lack of trust among survivors were highlighted as major concerns. 

Referring to Badabon Sangho's research, Saleem Ahmed said identifying forms of violence, understanding vulnerabilities and normalising reporting are crucial for shaping future interventions.

Nazma Akter, Executive Director of Awaj Foundation, said that women workers migrating from rural areas to cities due to the impacts of climate change are among the most vulnerable. Low wages, informal workplaces and prevailing social attitudes continue to expose them to violence and harassment.

She noted that while Bangladesh's ratification of ILO Convention 190 on preventing violence and harassment in the world of work is a major milestone, there is now an urgent need to formulate and implement effective laws and policies to ensure its enforcement. Strong political commitment needed to end violence against women.

In a presentation, Fariha Jesmin, Programme Manager at Badabon Sangho, said that in partnership with The Business Standard, the organisation is implementing a year-long initiative to develop a GBV reporting tool by directly engaging vulnerable women and girls, particularly migrant women in urban informal settlements.

The project is being implemented in Mongla, Keraniganj and Kamrangirchar under the thematic area of inclusion and safety. Over 12 months, it has engaged 355 primary participants through 10 women, girls and gender-diverse groups across Dhaka slums, Keraniganj and Mongla.

The project identified key challenges including stigma and victim-blaming, fear of retaliation, limited digital literacy and access to safe technology, confidentiality concerns, power dynamics within households and communities, lack of trauma-informed approaches, and sensationalised media reporting. Limited collaboration between media and NGOs and low mainstream media interest in structural GBV were also cited.

"Looking ahead, we aim to educate vulnerable women and survivors about existing reporting mechanisms such as the national emergency helpline 999, raise awareness on different forms of GBV, and strengthen partnerships with media for policy advocacy and survivor-centred reporting," Fariha Jesmin added.

Advocate Arifur Rahman Shakil of the Dhaka Judge Court said history shows that laws alone cannot bring social change. Referring to the abolition of the Sati system during the British period, he said legal measures were accompanied by strong social movements led by reformers like Raja Ram Mohan Roy and Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar.

He noted, "Although the Women and Children Repression Prevention Act was enacted in 2001 and amended following social movements and high-profile cases, including child rape and murder incidents, the judicial process remains rigid and lacks adequate safety measures for survivors." 

The National Women Development Policy, last updated in 2011, has not kept pace with technological and social changes, he further pointed out.

"These contradictions demand both social movements and legal reforms through the courts," he said, calling for collective action to ensure meaningful protection and justice for women.

Speakers also pointed out that shortages of skilled personnel in investigation and judicial processes, the absence of survivor-friendly systems, and fear of social stigma discourage women from filing complaints. They stressed that political commitment, institutional reforms and sustained media advocacy are essential to change this reality.