GIZ Gender WebsiteGIZ Bangladesh organised 16 days half day event against gender-based violence on 10 December 2025 on the theme “Together we End Gender-based Digital Violence” at Six Seasons Hotel.
The event commenced with the Introduction speech by Dr Petra Lahann, Cluster Coordinator, Biodiversity Cluster who welcomed all the participants and talked about how gender-based digital violence has become one of the most urgent forms of violence worldwide that can affect our lives and wellbeing. She mentioned the importance to acknowledge that men can also face digital harassment, manipulation, extortion, and abuse. She talked about Germany’s Feminist Development Policy also includes safety in all platforms including digital ones. And that ending digital violence is a collective responsibility.
The Introduction speech was followed by a series of sessions and activities. This included an open dialogue session facilitated by Ms Syeda Ashrafiz Zaharia Prodhan and Ms Fatema Begum Labony, where the participants shared their thoughts on different topics and questions about the 16 days activism against gender-based violence, which were jotted on the placards pinned in front of their chairs. Next there was an interesting handprint activity facilitated by Ms Anab Anwar and Ms Alina Moser, where all the participants put their hands in colours and put their hand prints on art paper placed on pin boards. Later a very engaging males story telling session held again facilitated by Ms Syeda Ashrafiz Zaharia Prodhan and Ms Fatema Begum Labony. The male colleagues shared their various stories like the story of the White Tiger in Germany, how unwanted videotaping of women and girls, shameful and hurtful comments in the social platforms are leading to serious consequences like suicide. Then there was a lively quiz session on gender-based digital violence by Ms Anab Anwar.
The last activity of the day was with the learning pot, where the participants held the pot and shared what they learned from the event. The day ended with a thank you note from the GIZ Bangladesh Gender Country Focal persons Ms Farah Maysun Khan and Ms Alina Moser.
Written by Ms Farah Maysun Khan, Knowledge Management and Gender Specialist and GIZ BD Gender Country Focal