Employers, media urged to champion gender equality
Khulna Correspondent :
Employers and media representatives in Khulna have underscored the need for stronger collaboration to ensure gender equality and safe workplaces, particularly for women and persons with disabilities.
The dialogue, organized by UCEP Bangladesh at its Khulna regional office on Monday, aimed to promote inclusive and discrimination-free work environments. The programme, funded by the GRiVET project, brought together employers from various institutions, journalists, project officials and other stakeholders.
Speaking at the opening session, Nasrin Akter, in charge of Social Inclusion and Employment at UCEP Khulna, stressed that creating equal opportunities and ensuring workplace safety for women and persons with disabilities requires proactive engagement from both employers and the media.
“Responsible roles from all stakeholders are essential to build inclusive workplaces,” she said. Social worker and entrepreneur Mukta Jaman Rakhi highlighted practical steps to strengthen gender equality.
workplace inclusion and the prevention of gender-based violence. She noted that ensuring a safe and non-discriminatory environment for women as well as employees with disabilities is now a pressing demand of the time.
Habiba Khatun, publisher and editor of Dainik Kaler Sakshi, spoke on sexual and reproductive health rights and menstrual hygiene management, urging employers to treat these issues with dignity and normalcy in professional settings.
Entrepreneur Rabeya Khatun addressed the far-reaching impact of child, early and forced marriage, describing it as a major barrier to girls’ education and long-term career prospects.
During the open discussion, participants shared experiences and recommendations, emphasising the need for coordinated action, greater awareness and effective policy implementation to foster equitable workplaces.
In her closing remarks, Nasrin Akter summarised the key takeaways and thanked participants for their engagement, reaffirming UCEP’s commitment to advancing gender equality and social inclusion across the region.