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Manusher Jonno Foundation held an event titled Women’s Empowerment: Women’s Voice and Leadership Bangladesh Project was organised at the Radisson Blu Water Garden Hotel in the capital, said a press release on Wednesday.

The conference highlighted the transformative impact of women’s voice and leadership Bangladesh project, funded by Global Affairs Canada and implemented by Manusher Jonno Foundation and showcased inspiring stories from grassroots women, girls, and transgender individuals, detailing their struggles, aspirations, and achievements.

The conference was graced by the presence of the adviser to the ministry of fisheries and livestock Farida Akhter, as chief guest. Additionally, special guests included Saidur Rahman, director general of the NGO affairs bureau; Debra Boyce, chargée d’affaires of the Canadian embassy in Bangladesh; and Rasheda K Choudhury, executive director of the Campaign for Popular Education.

Highlighting the need to bring women from different classes and identities to the forefront, Farida Akhter, stated, ‘If issues are not addressed from various perspectives, simply generalising ‘women’s’ problems is not enough to eliminate discrimination.’

She also emphasised the need for balanced nutrition in schools to improve the education and health of female children, an initiative she is working on with the interim government.

The WVL project is a global initiative by Global Affairs Canada to support local women’s organisations in developing countries to ensure women and girls’ empowerment, gender equality, and human rights protection.

Since March 2019, the MJF has been implementing the Women’s Voice and Leadership Bangladesh project, which provided grants to local women’s rights organisations and is strengthening the capacity of local women’s rights organisations community-based organisations to help women, girls, and transgender individuals – especially those who are marginalised and vulnerable to exercise their rights.

MJF in this project has been working with 18 WRO/CBOs and women’s networks nationwide through multi-year partnerships, added the press release.

Shaheen Anam, executive director of MJF, defines feminist as everyone who believes in equal human rights. ‘We consider men our allies; we want them in our journey to ensure gender equality.’