Addressing gender-based violence during crisis

Women's rights activists yesterday said a concerted effort is required to end gender-based violence in the country and ensure wellbeing of women vulnerable to humanitarian crises.

They were speaking at the launch of Bangladesh Women's Humanitarian Platform (BWHP), a body comprising 40 organisations working all over the country.

The event, at Dhaka's Cirdap, was organised by Oxfam in Bangladesh.

Organisers said BWHP emerged in October 2017 through a workshop engaging different women's rights organisations.

Momotaj Khatun, a member of BWHP and executive director of Ashroy Foundation, said that they will help build capacity of humanitarian responders to effectively address gender-based violence during crisis.

Speaking on the Rohingya women's plight, she said that the authorities should enhance family planning initiatives in the camps with increasing women-friendly healthcare centres there.

Mia Seppo, UN resident coordinator in Bangladesh, said that violence against women and girls is common in Bangladesh.

Deeply rooted patriarchal social norms, traditional practices and a weak criminal justice system enable such violence, she said, referring to a study.

“Disasters don't discriminate but people do. Disasters reinforce, perpetuate and then increase gender inequality, making situation bad for women,” she added.

Seppo welcomed the launch of BWHP and stressed that the UN will closely work with the platform to reduce gender-based violence in Bangladesh.

Nazmun Nahar, gender justice manager of Oxfam, said that BWHP aims to better understand humanitarian crises from a gender perspective, including the needs of and challenges for women and girls during disasters.

It will advocate for improved data on sexual violence and human trafficking, she said, while moderating the programme.

Rowshon Ara, project director of Nari Pokkho, among others, spoke at the event.