Bonhishikha and PPLA Convene Follow Up Event on Women’s Land Rights

On August 18th 2022, PPLA once again joined forces with Bonhishikha – unlearn gender to organise a follow-up event to the highly successful expert roundtable, looking to establish a road map on how to move forward with the women’s land rights agenda in Bangladesh. Once again Dr Oliver Scanlan from Center for Sustainable Development, University of Liberal Arts Bangladesh, presented PPLA research findings concerning gendered exclusions from rights to land. The audience comprised a more diverse grouping of potential actors, including representation from donors GIZ and the embassy of the Netherlands. Media outlets, foundations and youth activists were also well represented.

Following the presentation and Q and A Ms. Tasaffy Hossain, Founder and Managing Partner of Bonhishikha – unlearn gender, led an intensive session of group work. She asked participants to identify allies, obstacles, resources and obstacles covering a range of areas, from direct advocacy with the Government to creating an “enabling environment” for change, requiring shifting media discourses and changing popular societal attitudes to women and their rights to land. Groups then fed back on all of these themes. Noting that everyone had identified just how challenging these questions are, Tasaffy wrapped up the day’s work by emphasising that this was just the latest step. Bonhishikha – unlearn gender would take the rich material suggested by participants, and incorporate it into their own strategic plan moving forward. She hoped to be in touch with participating organisations in the near future to begin putting the road map into reality.