Women’s rights advocates and civil society organizations in Bangladesh have expressed deep concern over the alarming rise in misogyny and hatred against women, driven by the recent surge in religious fanaticism and fundamentalism. Speakers raised this issue during a joint meeting organized to draft a shadow report for the upcoming review by the UN Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW).

The special consultation meeting on the CEDAW Shadow Report was organized by the Citizens Initiative for CEDAW Bangladesh (CIC-BD) platform on Monday afternoon (August 02) at the central office of Bangladesh Mahila Parishad in the capital.

Strong Demand to Withdraw Reservations on CEDAW Articles and Enact Uniform Family Code

During the meeting, rights activists strongly demanded that the Government of Bangladesh immediately withdraw its long-standing reservations on Article 2 (policy measures to eliminate discrimination) and Article 16.1(c) (equal rights in marriage and family relations) of the CEDAW charter.

According to the speakers, the government’s reservations on these articles hinder the establishment of equal rights. Consequently, the meeting resolved to strongly highlight the need for amending discriminatory family laws and implementing a ‘Uniform Family Code’ in the shadow report being prepared by civil society.

Key Issues Discussed

Participants identified current challenges to women’s human rights in Bangladesh and stressed including several critical topics in the shadow report:

* Fundamentalism and Mob Violence: Misogynistic attitudes stemming from religious extremism, hate speech online and offline, and recent instances of mob violence.

* Legal Protection and Gender-Based Violence: Lack of effective legislation against gender-based violence and sexual harassment in workplaces and educational institutions, alongside the pervasive influence of patriarchal norms.

* Socio-Economic Challenges: Child labor, human trafficking, illegal migration, and precarious social security.

Key Statements from Civil Society Leaders

Presiding over the meeting, Dr. Fauzia Moslem, President of Bangladesh Mahila Parishad, stated- ‘Several new and complex obstacles have emerged in establishing women’s human rights today. In particular, the rise of fundamentalism fueled by fanaticism and the resulting hate speech against women have become painfully evident. Key issues such as withdrawing reservations on core CEDAW articles, as well as contemporary matters like the gendered impact on the energy and environment sectors, must be incorporated into this year’s shadow report.’

The welcome address was delivered by the organization’s General Secretary, Maleka Banu. Gender specialist Ferdousi Sultana Begum presented an analysis and key highlights regarding the Bangladesh Government’s report to be submitted to the UN CEDAW Committee in 2025.

A Collective Commitment

Representatives from more than 20 leading human rights and development organizations participated in the open discussion. Attendees included delegates from Women for Women, Steps Towards Development, Bangladesh National Woman Lawyers Association (BNWLA), Bangladesh Nari Progati Sangha, BRAC, ActionAid, Nijera Kori, Ain o Salish Kendra (ASK), BLAST, and Campaign for Popular Education, among others, bringing total attendance to over 50 members.

This coordinated effort by civil society is seen as a major step toward reflecting the true reality of women’s lives in Bangladesh before the UN CEDAW Committee and advancing the struggle for equal rights.