Civil Society Concerned Over Rising Misogyny Amid Fundamentalist Surge in Bangladesh

• Women’s rights advocates and civil society organizations in Bangladesh have voiced alarm over surging misogyny driven by a rise in religious fundamentalism.
• A coalition of groups met to draft a shadow report for the upcoming UN Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) review.

Primary Demands

• Immediate withdrawal of government reservations on CEDAW Article 2 (policy measures to eliminate discrimination) and Article 16.1(c) (equal rights in marriage and family).
• Enactment of a 'Uniform Family Code' to replace discriminatory family laws and guarantee legal equality.

Key Issues for the Shadow Report

• Fundamentalism and Mob Violence: Addressing extremist-led hate speech and recent incidents of mob violence against women.
• Legal Protections: Tackling the lack of effective legislation against gender-based violence, sexual harassment in workplaces, and deep-seated patriarchal norms.
• Socio-Economic Risks: Urgent focus on human trafficking, child labor, illegal migration, and inadequate social safety nets.

Collective Action

• Led by Dr. Fauzia Moslem of the Bangladesh Mahila Parishad, the initiative includes representatives from over 20 organizations.
• Key participants include the Bangladesh National Woman Lawyers Association (BNWLA), BRAC, ActionAid, Ain o Salish Kendra (ASK), and others.
• The coalition aims to present an accurate account of the status of women’s rights in Bangladesh to the UN committee in 2025 to advance the struggle for equality.