Advocacy is resistance: Navigating anti-LGBTQI+ violence in post-war Guatemala May 23, 2024 | Read more
Canadian coalition calls for urgent action to uphold civil liberties and Charter rights at protests and encampments across the country May 15, 2024 | Read more
Inter Pares joins call for Burma to end use of violence and respect democracy Feb 4, 2021 | Read more
Planning is resistance: Indigenous people in Burma envision a self-determined future May 23, 2024 | Read more
Inter Pares welcomes Canada’s feminist realignment of international assistance Jun 9, 2017 | Read more
Stopping the unstoppable: Citizen resistance to exterminator technology in Burkina Faso Sep 4, 2019 | Read more
The Immigrant Workers Centre to receive 2018 Peter Gillespie Social Justice Award Apr 18, 2018 | Read more
“Until We Find Them”: Searching for missing loved ones on the road to the North Mar 11, 2019 | Read more
CALL FOR PARTICIPANTS | Inter Pares and SUWRA launch Canadian civil society working group on Sudan Jun 25, 2024 | Read more
Karate and bodily autonomy: Helping girls in Bangladesh thrive through sport Dec 15, 2022 | Read more
Planning is resistance: Indigenous people in Burma envision a self-determined future May 23, 2024 | Read more
Advocacy is resistance: Navigating anti-LGBTQI+ violence in post-war Guatemala May 23, 2024 | Read more
Advocacy is resistance: Navigating anti-LGBTQI+ violence in post-war Guatemala May 23, 2024 | Read more
Organizing youth against violence: Sanjida Akhter, Bangladesh voices : Activist Profile Share Print Credit: S M Mahfuzul Islam Rahat As featured in our 2019 Annual Report Mobilizing for Change Gender-based violence in Bangladesh is pervasive, transcending class, religion and age. Religious fundamentalists assert that women must not leave the home, girls should marry young, and gender-based violence should be tolerated. Alarmingly, violence starts at a young age and girls frequently experience sexual harassment in schools. Ten years ago, in reaction to severe incidents of sexual harassment, the Supreme Court ordered all schools to form sexual harassment committees. Almost all schools ignored the order. In response, Nijera Kori, Inter Pares’ long-term counterpart, mobilized landless group members, adults and youth, to pressure schools to comply. Incredibly, in 2019 they succeeded in getting sexual harassment committees formed in 324 schools. Some youth have gone further, and Sanjida Akhter is one of them. Sanjida, a grade 10 student, formed a committee to stop child marriages, denounce harassment of girls, and educate local youth on these issues. Her committee successfully prevented the marriage of a 15-year old girl and received coverage in the local newspaper. While working to stop child marriage in her village, Sanjida herself rejected a proposed marriage. Nijera Kori youth are determined to make a change and organize activities to educate their communities about sexual violence. In 2019, over 200 girls and boys held a run to raise awareness of and denounce sexual violence. A bike rally highlighted the harassment of girl students and challenged the stereotype that girls should not ride bikes. Challenging gender norms and patriarchal practices is not easy, especially for young people who are often ignored. But Nijera Kori youth are passionate in their struggle for gender justice and we are proud to support them. I want to continue my studies and join the police so I can stop harassment and child marriages. Sanjida Akhter Learn more Read our 2019 Annual Report onlineDownload a PDF of our 2019 Annual Report Add new comment You must have JavaScript enabled to use this form. Your name Comment * Save Leave this field blank