Let’s UNiTE to End Gender-Based Violence
Stepping into 2025, AdSEARCH by icddr,b vows to bridge evidence and activism, advocating to end gender-based violence inspired by the spirit of the 16 Days of Activism. As part of the global campaign in 2024, the Civil Society Organization (CSO) Forum, with support from Ipas Bangladesh and AdSEARCH organised a seminar "Letʼs UNiTE to End Gender-Based Violence 2024", at Lakeshore Dhaka.
The occasion brought together policymakers and leading activists, academics, journalists and development partners from diverse entities to initiate dialogues on GBV and enforcing the 2018 TFT ban. In the welcome address, Professor Farhana Dewan, President, OGSB & Co-convenor, CSO Forum called for united efforts across all sectors. “We must unite—government, NGOs, and individuals—to put an end to violence against women. Itʼs not just a social responsibility but a moral imperative,” she declared.
During the opening session, Dr Sayed Rubayet, Country Director of Ipas Bangladesh presented the CSO Forumʼs position for womenʼs rights and gender equality in the context of Bangladesh. Followed by a presentation titled “GBV-a Global and Bangladesh Burden” presentation, Professor Kaosar Afsana underscored the severity of GBV as a major human rights violation and global public health problem, emphasising that it remains one of the most underreported crimes worldwide.
The central theme of the event was the ongoing challenge of “enforcing the ban on the Two-Finger Test (TFT) in collecting medico-legal evidence of rape”. Despite the 2018 ban on the TFT, the following session highlighted its continued use due to ignorance among medical and legal professionals. Nahida Akter, Gender equality specialist of icddr,b presented findings from the AdSEARCH study titled “Implementation of the Ban on Two-Finger Test in Medico-Legal Evidence Collection”. The findings reveal significant gaps in awareness and enforcement, particularly outside Dhaka. The session moderator, Dr Ruchira Tabassum Naved , condemned the practice as inhumane, unethical, unscientific, and unreliable.
One of the session presenters Dr Fahmida Nargis delivered a presentation titled “TFT: An Unscientific, Unethical & Unreliable test in proving rape”. Advocate Masuda Rehana Begum, Joint General Secretary of Bangladesh Mahila Parishad, also engaged in the dialogue as she called for coordinated efforts between the government and private sectors to increase public awareness about the TFT ban. In the open discussion titled “Shaping the Future: Charting a Path to a Gender-based Violence-Free Bangladesh”, Dr Tasnim Azim facilitated and engaged the audience with the dayʼs reflections. Dr Azim also invited the honorable chief guest Md. Saidur Rahman Khan, to the stage for his remarks. Mr Khan reaffirmed the governmentʼs commitment to ending the practice. In the closing remarks, the co-chair of the event, Barrister Sara Hossain,emphasised the crucial role of civil society in reducing GBV and ending the TFT. She highlighted the importance of circumstantial evidence and DNA testing as alternatives. Among others Edward Cabrera,Shireen Huq, Dr Shams El Arifeen, Project Director of AdSEARCH by icddr,b and Dr Ahmed Ehsanur Rahman, Technical Coordinator of AdSEARCH also delivered their remarks. The seminar concluded with a resounding call to action for stronger collaboration across all sectors to end GBV and promote gender equality.
Major Attendees (chronology as appeared in the news):
Professor Kaosar Afsana, BRAC James P Grand School of Public Health, BRAC University
Dr Fahmida Nargis, Lecturer, Community Medicine and Public Health Department, Dhaka Medical College and Hospital
Dr Ruchira Tabassum Naved Emeritus Scientist, icddr,b,
Md. Saidur Rahman Khan, Additional Secretary, Cabinet Division
Shireen Huq, Co-Founder and Member,
Naripokkho Edward Cabrera, First Secretary (Development), High Commission of Canada in Bangladesh
Barrister Sara Hossain, Honorary Executive Director of BLAST and Co-convenor of the CSO Forum
