VOICE hosts webinar marking International Women’s Day

Despite its progress, Bangladesh currently stands at a crucial crossroads as the promise of equality remains overshadowed by the harsh realities women and girls face every day. Amid ongoing governance challenges and rising violence — both online and offline, women are still easy targets of systemic oppression and digital harassment, say experts.

Their concerns were raised at a webinar, titled "Tackling Violence Against Women and Advancing Gender Equality in Bangladesh", organised by Voices for Interactive Choice and Empowerment (VOICE), a veteran advocacy and research organisation, yesterday (8 March), marking International Women's Day 2025.

Women rights activists, CSOs and NGO representatives, journalists, digital rights experts, and law practitioners attended the session to discuss the current state of women's rights in Bangladesh, according to a press release.

During the panel discussion, Mahpara Alam, Development Professional (BLAST) and Fellow (One Future Network, South Asia), stressed that it is the state's responsibility to ensure women's right to safety through necessary amendments to the constitution and laws.

Another member of the panel, Jenia Kabir Shuchona, senior reporter of Channel 24, shed light on recent incidents of violence against women in Bangladesh.

Sultan Mahmud, deputy editor of Daily Amar Desh, said: "News outlets are now more concerned about going viral and getting likes and views and this tendency leads to serious violation of media ethics and principles of journalism."

Promiti Prova Chowdhury, project manager at VOICE, gave a presentation on technology-facilitated gender-based violence in Bangladesh.

Regarding economic empowerment, Senior Executive of The Daily Star's Commercial Supplement section Saudia Afrin said when a woman decides to run a business she needs to travel but multiple threats and restrictions impede her mobility.

An open discussion was held to explore actionable strategies for fostering an environment where women and girls can thrive with safety, dignity, and equality.

Ahmed Swapan Mahmud, executive director of VOICE, said: "Women's empowerment and gender equality in Bangladesh remain far from reality, as economic empowerment alone has not ensured women's safety or equal participation. Online violence increasingly hinders women's political engagement, silencing their voices and limiting their leadership.

"True empowerment requires not just economic inclusion but also protection from violence and the dismantling of social norms, stereotypes and ideas that exploit women."

The webinar concluded with a strong call for immediate and comprehensive action to advance women's rights and ensure gender equality in Bangladesh.

Participants emphasised the need to foster a culture of respect and empathy, alongside training on digital rights, cybercrime, and gender sensitivity.

They also stressed the importance of implementing clear and robust legal provisions to combat all forms of harassment and violence against women, with strict penalties for offenders to ensure accountability and protection.