The Occasion of 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence Theme

Roundtable on “UNiTE to End Digital Violence Against All Women and Girls”

The ICT Division, Bangladesh Institute of International and Strategic Studies (BIISS), Aspire to Innovate (a2i), the High Commission of the Republic of Maldives in Bangladesh, and the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) jointly organized a roundtable discussion titled “UNiTE to End Digital Violence Against All Women and Girls” on Thursday, 27 November 2025, at the Secretary Conference Room, ICT Division, Agargaon, Dhaka.

The event brought together policymakers, legal experts, academics, development practitioners, technology leaders, civil society representatives, and media personalities to discuss the growing challenge of digital violence against women and girls. Faiz Ahmad Taiyeb, Special Assistant to the Hon’ble Chief Adviser, Ministry of Posts, Telecommunications and Information Technology, attended the programme as the Chief Guest. Shish Haider Chowdhury, ndc, Secretary, ICT Division; Shiuneen Rasheed, High Commissioner of the Republic of Maldives to Bangladesh; and Sudhir Muralidharan, Country Manager, UNOPS Bangladesh and Bhutan, participated as Special Guests. Barrister Tasnuva Shelley, Advocate, Supreme Court of Bangladesh, delivered the keynote presentation.

The roundtable featured in-depth discussions on the experiences of survivors of online abuse, the psychological consequences of digital violence, and the challenges of ensuring safety and accountability in digital spaces. Participants also examined strategies for building a safer digital ecosystem through coordinated actions involving government institutions, technology companies, law enforcement agencies, civil society organizations, educational institutions, and development partners.

The event provided a valuable platform for exchanging perspectives on digital rights, online safety, gender equality, and cyber governance. Discussions emphasized the importance of multi-stakeholder collaboration, public awareness, legal safeguards, technological solutions, and victim support mechanisms to combat digital violence and promote a more inclusive and secure digital environment for women and girls.

Objectives of the Roundtable are:

• To raise awareness about the prevalence, forms, and impacts of digital violence against women and girls.

• To examine the social, psychological, legal, and technological dimensions of online abuse and harassment.

• To explore effective strategies for prevention, protection, reporting, and redress of digital violence.

• To promote collaboration among government agencies, technology companies, civil society organizations, development partners, and academia in addressing online gender-based violence.

• To identify policy and institutional measures for strengthening digital safety, cyber governance, and victim support mechanisms.

• To contribute to building a safer, more inclusive, and gender-responsive digital ecosystem in Bangladesh.