Expressing solidarity with the global campaign ‘One Billion Rising’ to end violence against women and children, Bangladesh observed the day on 14 February 2019. Bangladesh Association for Community Education (BACE) and NDBAS in association with ActionAid Bangladesh organized campaigns at Madarganj and Kalyanpur area where hundreds of women and children took part to raise their voice against VAW and child marriage.

We shed our blood to protect our mother tongue, Bangla. But, ironically, our very own mother language is now being used against women. If we closely look at the abusive words which are commonly used in our society during any heated argument or fight, we will notice that almost all of them are women-centered violating their dignity.

Since the beginning of the Rohingya crisis, journalists have played a significant role to cover the issues and facts of the crisis. Considering the possible scopes and challenges of covering Gender Based Violence issues more intensively, ActionAid Bangladesh organized a workshop with the journalists in Cox’s Bazar with the support of UNFPA and Canadian High Commission.

Climate change is affecting everyone, specially vulnerable communities. Engaging young people’s voice is therefore needed to bring change. To encourage the young people to raise their voice in global platform to ensure international fund and climate justice to fight climate change, Youth Environment and Social Development Society (YESDS) organized ‘Dhaka Climate Talk 2018’ in association with Stamford University Bangladesh, ActionAid Bangladesh, Oxfam and Independent University, Bangladesh.

Globally, the fashion industry is responsible for contributing to global water waste by 20% and emits 10% of global carbon emission. Cotton farming itself is responsible for 24% of insecticide production and 11% pesticide production. While 15% of textiles are recycled, the rest of 85% is sent to landfill, that is about 21 billion ton per year which puts a huge impact on the environment, he said, adding that the waste, as they decompose, release methane, which is a significant contribwsutor to global warming.

Mosammat Laizu Begum is a farmer and President of Jago Nari Women Federation of Lalmonirhat. Being one of the participants of ActionAid Bangladesh’s POWER Project, she leads 20 women groups under the federation. Taking part in the SAARC Regional Expert Consultation from 9 to 11 June 2019, Laizu begum shared her learning on doing Climate Resilient Sustainable Agriculture Practice (CRSA) and challenges of getting access to the market.

The first ever ‘Water Museum’ in Asia is located in Bangladesh’s coastal district Patuakhali. ‘Water Museum’ may sound too futuristic for 2014. Has water become so scarce that we have to preserve it in a museum? Let’s find out.

During the 5-day Global Platform on Disaster Risk Reduction (GPDRR) conference 2019 in Geneva, Bangladesh has been showcased as one of the most resilient countries in the world. But it remains one of the most vulnerable countries to the adverse impacts of climate change and disasters many challenges including rising temperature and increasing population. And to achieve Sustainable Development Goals in Bangladesh, it is important to incorporate climate change, disasters and associated uncertainty into our development programme. National budget plays crucial role in this regard.

Breaking the silence of social taboo, young girls and boys of Chanpara Community observed the International menstrual hygiene day 2019 with several activities to spread awareness among the people. Dr. Shafiur Rahman, Department Head of Occupational and Environment Health, NIPSOM, addressed the inaugural session as the Chief Guest and launched Menstrual Hygiene kit prepared with the support of ActionAid Bangladesh.

From an early age, I experienced some of the problems of women’s mobility in the city myself. Whether a woman or girl is working outdoors or a homemaker, educated or empowered, the situation is broadly the same. We often must begin the day thinking about how to dress in order to be safe, and then where to sit, dawn or dusk, to use public transport or not, and so many other issues (that amount to personal defence) just in order to move within our own communities. This is not freedom to access our cities.

In April 2018 ActionAid and partners adopted the Dhaka Declaration at the International Conference on the Rohingya Refugee Crisis and pledged to uphold its clauses. Article 14 of the Declaration holds us committed to ‘emphasize the need to constructively build on the strengths of the Rohingya population, particularly women and girls, and engage them as leaders in the design of any future sustainable development solutions in line with the SDGs’. Today on the eve of the one year ‘anniversary’ of this historic exodus and after a year of frenzied humanitarian intervention and advocacy, it is time to take stock of where we stand

Background The current Rohingya population taking refuge in Bangladesh amounts to over 1 million, with the majority comprising women and children. They are one of the most vulnerable groups of people deprived of basic human rights in the world today.