SACMID hosted a discussion meeting titled “Violence, Risks, and Protection for Women and Young Girls in Digital Media: Need Assessment” on Monday (February 24) at the CSS Ava Center in Khulna.
This event was organized under the project “Empowering Media Professionals, Girl Students, and Community Women through an Improved Understanding of Digital Threats and Security Measures,” funded by the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Bangladesh.
The meeting was attended by various stakeholders, including entrepreneurs, representatives from social welfare organizations, media professionals, lawyers, educators, students, and government officials from Khulna.
Namia Akhter, Senior Policy Adviser of the Netherlands Embassy in Bangladesh, joined the meeting online and delivered her opening remarks.
The meeting was also attended by Syed Kamrul Hasan, Deputy Director of SACMID, along with other officials from the organization.
During the discussions, participants shared their views on the growing concerns of digital violence, especially sexual harassment on social media platforms. Many pointed out that the lack of proper understanding and awareness about using social media safely, along with limited knowledge of digital security laws, puts women at significant risk.
The importance of digital training for women was emphasized to help them navigate online platforms securely. Concerns about the rise of online fraud, cyberbullying, and the misuse of fake identities were also highlighted as major challenges for women. Other topics included the increasing social isolation and the rise of child marriages among young people due to mobile phone usage.
The need for better law enforcement, along with the lack of social and religious values, was also noted as a contributing factor to the growing concerns. The discussion concluded with a call for the need for counseling services for women and increased awareness on how to keep their online accounts secure.
Under this project, SACMID will continue its efforts throughout the year in Comilla, Khulna, and Sirajganj to raise awareness and enhance digital safety for women and young girls.