• Digital transformation is happening very fast in people’s lifestyles, affecting social activities as well. At least, that’s what all the statistics and data that understand the speed and nature of digital growth are telling. For example, according to the 2024 data of the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC), the total number of mobile phone SIMs in the country is now 193,733,000, of which there are 138,590,000 internet users. It can be seen from the internet usage rate that 71 percent of the country’s population is taking this benefit. Due to the easy availability of smartphones and internet, 29 percent of people in the country are using different types of social media. This means that the number of people regularly using different types of social media in the country is about five crore.
• As internet use has increased, so has technology-assisted harassment. In this case, there is no difference in age, class, or profession, but women are the most victims of harassment and violence. Currently, women in our country are victims of crime and injustice in the family and society; more than that, they are victimized by online media. Women are being victimized by posting offensive pictures or videos on the internet, leaking confidential information or private words or photographs, extorting money by blackmail, hacking IDs, sending sexually harassing messages, proposing sexual relations, and hateful and offensive sexual comments.
• The new trap of the cyber world is ‘Deepfake’ videos or pictures. With the help of artificial intelligence (AI), girls and women in our country are constantly being harassed by making fake videos and pictures and spreading them on social media. This is an entirely different context from the country’s digital progress. This is hindering the participation of women in online platforms. This affects all aspects of the country’s development, including the economy and digital progress, because it is impossible to achieve any progress goal by leaving half the country’s population insecure online. Therefore, technology-assisted gender-based violence by raising awareness and strengthening the role of relevant stakeholders, including public and private institutions, technology institutions, civil society organizations, law enforcement agencies, public representatives, policy-makers, and the media in our digital platforms for all women in particular. It is essential to create a safe environment.
Dhaka, 12 June 2024:
Bangladesh NGOs Network for Radio and Communication (BNNRC) aims to increase public awareness and strengthen the role of relevant stakeholders, including public and private institutions, technology institutions, civic organizations, law enforcement agencies, public representatives, policymakers, and media, in preventing gender-based violence with the help of technology. BNNRC organized an Online Training of Facilitators on ‘Ensuring Gender Equality in the Digital Transformation Process: Community Radio Broadcasting to Address Gender-based Violence through Technology’ on Wednesday, June 12, 2024.
The Training of Facilitators aims to ensure gender equality in the digital transformation process: to educate community radio broadcasters about tackling gender-based violence through technology, stakeholders such as governments, technology companies, regulatory commissions, media, and civil society organizations, including community radio. To shed light on and encourage radio broadcasters to take effective action in determining what community radio should do.
A total of 42 station managers and broadcasters of 19 community radios and two community online radios of the country participated in the training of facilitators. Participating radio stations and broadcasters are- Ms. Shahnaz Parveen, Station Manager and Mr. Asadur Rahman, Community Radio Padma 99.2FM, Rajshahi), Mr. Salim Shariar, Station Manager, and Miss Pratima Rani, Program Producer (Community Radio Nalta 99.2FM Kaliganj, Satkhira), Mr. Monir Hossain Kamal, Senior Station Manager and Md. Salman, Program Producer (Community Radio 99.2FM, Barguna), Mr. Mehedi Hasan, Senior Station Manager, and Md. Al-Amin, Program Producer (Community Radio Pallikantha 99.2FM, Moulvibazar), Mr. Sanjay Chowdhury, Station Manager and Nayan Hasan, Assistant Program Producer (Community Radio Sagargiri 99.2FM Sitakunda, Chittagong), Ms. Allaya Ferdous, Station Manager and Md. Nayan Ali, Assistant Program Producer (Community Radio Mahananda 98.8FM, Chapainawabganj), Mr. Ariful Islam Chowdhury, Station Manager and Miss. Nadia Akhter, Assistant Program Producer (Community Radio Mukti 99.2 FM, Bogra), Mr. Bashir Ahmed, Station Manager and Miss. Humaira Hena, Assistant Program Producer (Community Radio Chilmari 99.2FM, Chilmari, Kurigram), Mr. Miraj Hossain, Station Manager, and Md. Shakeel Ahmed, Program Producer (Community Radio Jhinook 99.2FM, Jhinaidah), Mr. Sajedul Islam, station manager and Mr. Shamim Mridha, Program Producer (Community Agriculture Radio 99.8FM, Amtali, Barguna), Miss. Mahfuza Akhter Munni, Assistant Program Producer and Mr. Abdul Aziz, Assistant Program Producer (Community Radio Naf 99.2 FM Teknaf, Cox’s Bazar
The training mainly discussed what technology-assisted gender-based violence is, its types and impacts, and what stakeholders such as governments, technology companies, regulatory commissions, media, and civil society organizations, including community radio and digital transformation, can do to prevent technology-assisted gender-based violence. Ensuring Gender Equality in the Process: Action Plans for Community Radio to Address Gender-Based Violence Through Technology
The keynote session was moderated by Mr. AHM Bazlur Rahman, Chief Executive Officer, BNNRC and Mr. Hiren Pandit, Coordinator, BNNRC. In an open discussion session on Ensuring Gender Equality in the Digital Transformation Process: Broadcasting Community Radio to Combat Gender-Based Violence through Technology, participants discussed their actions and action plans.
Notable activities proposed by them include the organization of orientation workshops on gender relations and development and technology-enabled combating gender-based violence with the participation of all broadcasters at the radio station level, ongoing activities of radio such as live programs, courtyard meetings, listeners’ clubs, talk shows, PSNs, providing awareness information to prevent gender-based violence with the help of technology in magazines, Natika, radio spots, etc., to various stakeholders at the local level such as public-private organizations, service-providing civic organizations, law enforcement agencies, public representatives, youth organization representatives, teachers, parents etc. organizing dialogues with participants and adding them to radio programs, as well as promoting awareness reels, videos, posts and interviews on prevention of gender-based violence with the help of technology on radio and social media.
It is hoped that through the training of facilitators, a total of 42 station managers and CNI broadcasters participating in 19 community radios and two community online radios in the country will gain an understanding of Gender Equality in the Digital Transformation Process: Countering Gender-based Violence with the help of technology which will help them Will be aware and efficient at the individual level. Besides, through these 42 broadcasters, awareness will be created among other radio-related people. Apart from this, by determining the action plan for community radio and implementing it, widespread public awareness will be made to prevent gender-based violence with the help of technology at the community level.
Ensuring Gender Equality in the Digital Transformation Process: BNNRC has launched campaigns at national and regional levels to create awareness of technology-enabled gender-based violence. Facilitator training is organized as a part of this. Apart from this, other activities of the campaign are- the organization of dialogues at community-based, district and departmental levels, with all journalists working in the media, representatives of civic organizations, technology companies, representatives of women’s rights organizations, representatives of law enforcement agencies, regulatory commissions and multi-dimensional stakeholders concerned in this regard. Organization of open dialogue on what to do at district, divisional and national levels. Also, with the help of technology, preparation of various materials on gender-based violence prevention and countermeasures and distribution to multiple institutions, including related stakeholders such as donor organizations, journalism and mass communication departments of public and private universities, non-governmental development organizations, and discussion regarding coordination with their ongoing activities.
Besides, a training module has been created that includes Legal Measures, Protection and Remedies, Measures to Support and Empower Survivors, Capacity Building, Including Other NGOs and Actors in the Criminal Justice System, Community Engagement and Education, Advocacy and Collective Action, Partnership and Collaboration Across Sectors, etc.
BNNRC is a Media Development Organization that has been working since 2000 and is registered with the NGO Affairs Bureau under the Office of the Honorable Prime Minister of the Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh. It is a particular consultative United Nations Economic and Social Council organization. It is the winner of the World Summit on Information Society United Nations Award 2016 and the champion of 2017 and 2019, 2020, 2021, and 2023 for its contribution to building the information society.
BNNRC works in knowledge-driven media development in the domestic, regional, and international arenas. Its endeavor is to develop the media based on knowledge and ongoing issues, taking into account the challenges and opportunities of the rapidly changing reality of the media in Bangladesh, with the aim of ensuring the information rights, good governance, and human rights of the people living in rural townships.
