ActionAid Bangladesh; Dhaka, 25 November 2024: ActionAid Bangladesh has launched a 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence campaign to address the grave issue of violence against women and raise awareness about online harassment. ActionAid inaugurated this campaign with co-funded from the European Union in Bangladesh and support from Beatnik.

With the theme “Safe Everywhere: At Home, Outside, and Online”, the campaign was inaugurated today, Monday, at the T&T playground in Khamarbari, Dhaka. The campaign will continue until 10 December, bringing together representatives of civil society organisations, community leaders, and concerned citizens to pledge collective action against violence towards women.

The opening session was moderated by Morium Nesa, Manager of the Women’s Rights and Gender Equity team at ActionAid Bangladesh, who highlighted the critical need for increased awareness to combat violence against women.

In her inaugural speech, Farah Kabir, Country Director of ActionAid Bangladesh, emphasised the importance of collaboration between communities, civil society organisations (CSOs), and the government. She remarked, “Today’s initiative serves as a reminder that the fight against violence is ongoing and that every voice plays a vital role in creating a safer world. ActionAid Bangladesh remains steadfast in its commitment to women’s empowerment, violence prevention, and the establishment of gender equality, as demonstrated by this collaborative effort.”

Farah Kabir also led an oath-taking ceremony against violence, where participants committed to safeguarding women’s rights through collective action.

As part of the campaign, a symbolic cycle rally was organised, with participants riding from the T&T playground to Rabindra Sarobar, advocating for the safety of women across all spaces—physical and digital.

At Rabindra Sarobar, an audiovisual presentation was showcased, highlighting the various forms of violence against women and its implications in the digital age. This was followed by a quiz session designed to educate participants on the challenges and solutions in combating violence against women.

The event concluded with a prize-giving ceremony, where Farah Kabir awarded prizes to the 10 quiz winners.

Notably, this campaign is being conducted under the SUSHIL project across nine districts of the country, in partnership with 123 local CSOs. The project supports the unification and sustainability of civil society organisations by promoting human rights, increasing civic engagement, and addressing violence against women through digital security and media literacy.