Aligned with the 2025 global theme: “UNiTE to End Digital Violence Against All Women and Girls”.
Date: 10 December 2025 | Time: 02:30 AM - 05:30 PM | Venue: “Abanti", House: 37 (1st Floor), Flat: A-1, Road: 27, Block: A, Banani, Dhaka-1213.
Background and Rationale:
Gender-based violence (GBV) remains one of the most pervasive human rights violations, undermining women’s health, dignity, and equality. Globally, nearly 1 in 3 women (30%) have experienced physical or sexual violence by an intimate partner or non-partner in their lifetime (WHO, 2021). In Bangladesh, the Violence Against Women Survey 2024 found that around 70% of women have experienced some form of intimate partner violence, while 41% reported violence within the past year (UNFPA Bangladesh, 2024).
The UNiTE by 2030 to End Violence against Women campaign was launched by the United Nations Secretary-General in 2008, calls for global solidarity and concrete action to eliminate all forms of violence against women and girls. Each year, the campaign highlights a specific theme during the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence (25 November–10 December) linking the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women with Human Rights Day to affirm that women’s rights are human rights.
In alignment with this global movement, VAALO avant-garde Ltd. is organizing the “Gender-Based Violence: Progress Pathway” Dialogue as an action to echo the UNiTE campaign’s goal. The dialogue seeks to foster critical reflection, shared learning, and collaborative strategies across four interlinked areas — SRHR, HIV, reproductive and child health, and digital safety — to advance collective efforts toward a violence-free and equitable society.
Objectives:
- To explore the interlinkages between violence against women, SRHR, HIV, reproductive and child health, and digital safety.
- To share national and global progress in addressing these issues
- To identify strategic pathways for integrating SRHR, HIV, reproductive and child health and digital violence prevention into policy and programmatic actions.
- To strengthen collaboration among government, NGOs, academia, and youth networks in advancing the UNiTE campaign’s goals.
Key Resource Persons for the dialogue:
- Quazi Suraiya Sultana, Executive Director, RHSTEP
- Dr. Saima Khan, Country Director, UNAIDS
- Farhtheeba Rahat Khan, Independent Consultant
- Mushfiqua Zaman Satiar, Senior Policy Advisor – Gender and Civil Society, Focal Point for SRHR, Youth and NL SCS Partnerships, Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Bangladesh
- Dr. Rokshana Rabeya, Associate Professor & Head, Department of Public Health, CUB
- Dr. Nazneen Akhter, Founder and Managing Director, VAALO avant-garde Ltd.
Program Schedule:
| Time | Activities | In Charge Person | Focus Area |
| 2:30 pm-2:40 pm | Arrival and Registration | Dr. Munira Binte Morshed | --- |
| 2:40 pm-2:50 pm | Welcoming & Program Briefing | Umme Suriea | Objectives of the program, introduction of the speakers |
| 2:50 pm-3:00 pm | About VAALO avant-garde Ltd. | Umme Suriea | VAALO’s brief introduction |
| 3:00 pm-3:15 pm | Introduction of 16 Days of Activism to End Gender-based Violence and this year theme | Sabrina Afrin Soha | Keynote remarks on 16 days of activism and overview of national and global trends in GBV |
| 3:15 pm-3:40 pm | Power in Choice, Safety in Rights | Quazi Suraiya Sultana and Mushfiqua Zaman Satiar | Exploring SRHR as a Pathway to Empowerment and Protection from Violence |
| 3:40 pm-4:00 pm | From Womb to World | Dr. Rokshana Rabeya | Promoting maternal and child well-being through gender equality, protection, and rights-based health systems |
| 4:00 pm-4:20 pm | Breaking the Link Between Violence and HIV | Dr. Saima Khan | Examining how gender inequality and violence increase HIV vulnerability and hinder prevention |
| 4:00 pm-4:20 pm | Breaking the Link Between Violence and HIV | Dr. Saima Khan | Examining how gender inequality and violence increase HIV vulnerability and hinder prevention |
| 4:20 pm-4:40 pm | Click Safe, Live Safe | Farhtheeba Rahat Khan | Addressing technology-facilitated violence and promoting digital safety and accountability |
| 4:40 pm-5:00 pm | The Way Forward: Strengthening Collective Action | Dr. Nazneen Akhter | Synthesis of recommendations and collective commitments |
| 5:00 pm-5:15 pm | Closing and Photo session | Dr. Nazneen Akhter | --- |
Organizer and Participants:
VAALO avant-garde Ltd. will organize the program. Along with the key speakers the employers will participant in the discussion to make it more interactive.
