A press conference organized by Gender Platform Bangladesh was held on December 9, 2023 at the National Press Club Auditorium in the capital to demand the formulation and implementation of sexual harassment prevention and protection laws in the workplace and educational institutions, the implementation of the High Court’s directives regarding the formation of sexual harassment prevention committees in the workplace and the ratification of ILO Convention 190. Bangladesh Women Lawyers Association President Advocate Salma Ali, Awaz Foundation Executive Director Nazma Akhter and Bangladesh Institute of Labour Studies-BILS Director Nazma Yesmin spoke at the press conference. Representatives of all member organizations of Gender Platform Bangladesh were present at the press conference.

The speakers strongly demanded the government to enact and implement the Prevention and Protection of Sexual Harassment Act in the workplace and educational institutions, implement the directives of the High Court regarding the formation of the Prevention of Sexual Harassment Committee at the workplace and ratify the ILO Convention 190.

Fairware Foundation Country Manager Bablur Rahman, ETI Country Manager Abil Bin Amin Industrial Bangladesh Council General Secretary Kutubuddin Ahmed and Karmajibi Nari Program Coordinator Kazi Gulshan Ara Dipa answered various questions of the journalists.

It is to be mentioned that, with the aim of ensuring safety by preventing all forms of violence and sexual abuse in workplaces and educational institutions, an alliance of national and international human rights/labour organizations ‘Gender Platform Bangladesh’ was formed in January 2017. The organizations involved in the platform are implementing campaigns and advocacy activities to prevent violence and sexual abuse.