Call for joint action to ensure women’s participation in politics

Speakers at a divisional Policy Café have called for stronger collaboration among political parties, government institutions, civil society, and youth to ensure women’s meaningful participation, safety, and leadership in the upcoming local government elections. 

Held under the project "She Speaks: Empowering Voices, Shaping Policy," the dialogue brought together a diverse group of stakeholders, including representatives from the Divisional Social Services Office, active political and student organizations, rights activists, journalists, lawyers, and grassroots youth leaders.

The dialogue was organized by the JAAGO Foundation Trust at a hotel in Dhaka on Thursday.

Participants emphasized that legal provisions alone are not enough to guarantee women's empowerment; rather, it requires positive mindsets and internal reforms within political parties, robust government support, and widespread public awareness. Discussions centered on removing social, financial, and structural barriers ahead of the elections so women can thrive as voters, candidates, and decision-makers.

Speaking at the dialogue, young politician Farhana Binte Jigar Farin noted, “Our local decisions are usually not made in office meetings; they are made at nearby tea stalls, where women are absent. Furthermore, women lag significantly behind in raising funds for election campaigns. Political parties and society must adopt a more supportive approach to change this reality.”

Youth representative Abu Sayeed highlighted the need for institutional and party-level accountability, stating, “Women are entering politics, but they struggle to sustain their positions due to a lack of social and cyber security. In many cases, this insecurity stems from within their own parties. Creating a safe political environment requires genuine commitment from political leadership.”

Kaniz Fatima, Deputy Director of the WAVE Foundation, recommended, “The Representation of the People Order’s (RPO) provision for 33 percent female representation must move beyond mere ornamentation toward genuine empowerment. To achieve this, we must foster continuous collaboration between government bodies and civil society, while using grassroots evidence to maintain regular advocacy with political parties.”

To provide context for the dialogue, findings from a recent nationwide survey led by the JAAGO Foundation Trust across 5,428 women in all eight divisions were shared. While the data revealed that 67 percent of women have never participated in local ward meetings, budget sessions, or village court hearings—and 40 percent have faced political harassment or intimidation—it also underscored strong public demand for change, with 66 percent advocating for a greater female role in decision-making and 74 percent supporting inclusive quotas.

Among the survey respondents, 60.1 percent reside in Union Parishad areas, over 85 percent are under the age of 35, and 67 percent are students. Recommendations gathered from all eight divisional Policy Cafés will serve as the foundation for sustained policy advocacy aimed at establishing a dedicated ‘Parliamentary Caucus’ to advance women’s political rights.