Women and girls in Bangladesh face various forms of gender-based violence. In the world of work, the situation is nothing different. Rather, gender-based violence (GBV) at workplace affects women’s proactive participation in the workforce.
Fighting for reducing GBV has been one of the core working areas of ActionAid Bangladesh (AAB). This year, we introduced our national campaign on ‘Gender based Violence at the Workplace’ to address and challenge sexual & gender-based violence and harassment in both formal and informal sectors. Through this campaign, AAB aims to ensure passing and implementing appropriate laws and ensuring that no industries, sectors or corporations are exempted from national labour and women’s rights laws and standards.
At the launching ceremony of the campaign, Taslima Yasmin, faculty member of Law department, Dhaka University, presented a keynote paper on the current situation of legal instruments for GBV at workplace.
She said, while there is a serious lack of proper enforcement of the existing laws, the overall legal framework hardly defines sexual harassment at workplace.
The 2009 High Court’s directive on forming committees in every educational institution and workplace, to deal with complaints of sexual harassment, has by and large gone unheard, she added.
A study conducted by Shojag coalition reported that 22% of female garment workers are exposed to physical, psychological, and sexual harassment at work. And 67% of them do not seek support from the violence against women committee at their workplace due to lack of trust.
While moderating the panel discussion in the occasion, Farah Kabir, Country Director of ActionAid Bangladesh said, the survivors often fail to receive justice and it directly affects their mind and their work.
Additional Secretary of the labour and employment ministry Mollah Jalal Uddin said that gender-based violence at workplace was not acceptable. The government will modify the existing laws and enact new ones if needed.
Labour leader and Executive Director of Awaj Foundation Nazma Akhter, BGMEA Director A Momen, Executive director of Bangladesh Nari Progati Sangha Rokeya Kabir and Nijera Kori Coordinator Khushi Kabir also spoke in the programme among others.
AAB believes that the campaign for an ILO convention and recommendation will be an opportunity to heighten awareness on GBV, expose its harmful impact, collectively empower young workers and end impunity for GBV at work.
