DOT Desk: Bangladesh Nari Progati Sangha (BNPS) organized a workshop on women, peace, and security at the Brac Learning Center in Shambhuganj, Mymensingh, reports Dhaka Tribune.
The three-day workshop, which began on Monday, was held in collaboration with the Global Network of Women Peacebuilders (GNWP), gathered government and private sector officials, civil society organizations, and local representatives to contribute to the implementation of Bangladesh’s National Action Plan on Women, Peace, and Security.
The first day of the workshop covered topics such as gender concepts, conflict and perspective analysis, the legal framework for women’s inclusion in peace-building processes, peace and conflict situations in Bangladesh, and the role of various stakeholders in implementing UNSCR-1325. Through participatory discussions, attendees addressed community conflicts like drugs, dowry, domestic violence, and child marriage, which impact women, peace, and security. The day concluded with a collaborative discussion among participants. Participants included local government representatives from Mymensingh and Netrokona, teachers, social workers, politicians, government officials, law enforcement officers, health and safety personnel, cultural personalities, journalists, and representatives of women’s rights organizations.,BNPS Director Shahnaz Sumi emphasized protecting women’s equality, fostering a free society, developing grassroots women’s organizations, and highlighting women’s contributions nationally, regionally, and internationally. Sumi highlighted that the.

United Nations Resolution 1325 (UNSCR-1325) acknowledges women as victims in any war or crisis but also recognizes their crucial role in recovery and peacebuilding.

The National Action Plan for Women, Peace, and Security in Bangladesh was developed around this resolution to address these issues.

Jasmin Nario Galace, senior program director of GNWP, reiterated the importance of gender equality and the legal rights of women.

She emphasized GNWP’s mission to eliminate oppression and injustice against women and expressed gratitude to BNPS and the Canadian government for their efforts in establishing women, peace, and security.

Nasrin Begum, BNPS program coordinator, introduced the objectives and plans of the three-day workshop.

She noted the workshop’s aim to form four steering committees in Mymensingh (Sadar and Trishal upazilas) and Netrokona district (Sadar and Barhatta upazilas) with the trainees.

These committees will work on women, peace, and security issues for the next nine months, significantly contributing to the localization and implementation of Bangladesh’s National Action Plan.