Special Correspondent: As part of the global 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence, Population Services and Training Center (PSTC) and Bonik Barta jointly organized a regional dialogue yesterday, emphasizing that only united and coordinated action can effectively end gender-based violence and ensure a safer digital environment for women.
Moderated by PSTC’s Executive Director Dr. Noor Mohammad, the webinar opened with welcome remarks from Tomoko Fukuda, Regional Director for South Asia at the International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF).
In her speech, Fukuda highlighted the alarming reality, stating that “three out of four women in Bangladesh face violence, and this remains a pressing issue across South Asia. Unfortunately, very little progress has been made in reducing these numbers. Women, along with LGBTQ communities and indigenous groups, continue to be disproportionately affected by violence.”
The panel of international speakers included Shering Dolkar, Executive Director of RENEW Bhutan; Jack Martin, Executive Director of the Solomon Islands Planned Parenthood Association; and Lenny Zakaria, Executive Director of the Indonesian Planned Parenthood Association.
Drawing from their global and regional experiences, the speakers stressed that meaningful change is not possible through individual efforts alone. They emphasized the need for collective engagement across all levels of society to build a violence-free future.
Representatives from several countries also took part in the dialogue. Participants included:
Dr. Praveen Shakya, Family Planning Association of Nepal (FPAN)
Harjyot Khosa, Senior Technical Advisor, IPPF South Asia
Kinley Bidha and Meenakshi Rai, RENEW Bhutan
Lady Lisondra, Youth & Advocacy Advisor, IPPF East, Southeast Asia & Oceania
Dorji Yuden, Bhutan
Jamuna Sitoula, FPAN
Md. Taslim Uddin Khan, Directorate of Family Planning, Bangladesh
Faisal Sabbir, IPPF South Asia
Representatives from PSTC:
Dr. Md. Mahbubul Alam, Anita Sharif Chowdhury,
Kaniz Gofrani Quraishi, Md. Faisal Talukdar,
Abu Sadad Mohammad Sayem, Abdullah Al Mahmud,
Suhas Mahmud, and Rezaul Karim
Manzur Hossain, Head of Business at Bonik Barta, represented the organization.
Speaker Jack Martin underscored the importance of collaborative strategies to prevent violence, noting that only through joint and synchronized efforts can societies move toward being safe, just, and equitable for all.
The dialogue concluded with a renewed call for stronger partnerships, continuous advocacy, and unified initiatives to eliminate gender-based violence across the region.