Bringing sexuality and rights into the open in Bangladesh
In Bangladesh there is an environment of conservatism and a culture of collective denial of the existence of same-sex sexualities, which stifles public debate. The lack of protection of sexual rights of homosexuals and transgendered people results in harassment, silence, shame and fear. This pushes the issues underground.
Since 2007, the Centre for Gender Sexuality and HIV/AIDS at BRAC University in Dhaka, has been working to create a climate of open discussion on sexuality and rights and to put in place mechanisms for monitoring influence on policy and practice.
The Centre organised a series of activities to create visibility. It hosted a local workshop in January 2007 with affected communities, interested people and organisations to gauge levels of interest in challenging the existing situation. In July 2007 the Centre hosted an international conference on Gender, Sexuality and Rights, where over 150 health professionals, academics, activists, queer groups, students, journalists and NGO professionals discussed future research, training and advocacy ideas. With hindsight, it could be argued that the Centre quickly initiated activities aimed at building a platform for sexuality and rights, without considering the possibility of a backlash from conservative groups. Fortunately there was widespread positive media coverage of the conference in Bangladesh and encouraging responses from many different segments of society.
Policy champions, can link research findings to policy networks
The Centre continued to work with and provide space for minority groups to meet and discuss advocacy strategies and to develop their own influencing agendas. The follow up meetings and workshops in 2008 and 2009, as well as the unpublicised Sexual Diversity and Coalition Building workshop organised by gay rights activists in 2009, resulted in a strong relationship of trust and confidence between sexual minority groups as well as the development of a database of key individuals and organisations.
Three key groups were targeted by the Centre for initial training: academics from outside Dhaka, journalists and sexual minority groups. Academics outside Dhaka were encouraged to offer courses on gender, sexuality and rights. Through an award system and training sessions, journalists are now writing more about sexuality, marginalised communities and transgender rights.
The Centre has received many requests from activists, journalists, researchers and minority groups for materials and resources. A striking indicator of success in breaking some of the silence was the presence of two members of a ‘women who love women’ organisation at a Gender and Sexuality workshop hosted by the Centre.
Research on sexuality and rights by the Centre in 2008 sought to understand local constructions of sexuality and rights and to inform workshops and advocacy efforts. Evaluation questionnaires monitored change and progress at individual, work and community levels.
The activities have brought together people from diverse backgrounds, including those who have been invisible or silenced, and encouraged them to meet, speak freely, and critically reflect on sexuality and rights issues in Bangladesh.
While this is an ongoing process in a challenging environment, an initial platform now exists upon which marginalised groups can build and grow. This emergence may produce specific policy changes in Bangladesh in the future.
Sabina Faiz Rashid
Centre for Gender Sexuality and HIV/AIDS, James P. Grant School of Public Health, BRAC University, 66 Mohakhali, Dhaka 1212, Bangladesh
T +88 02 8824051-4
sabina@bracuniversity.ac.bd
www.bracuniversity.net/I&S/sph/centres_initiatives/cgsha.htm
BRAC is a partner in the Realising Rights RPC
