World Human Rights Day 2025 Observed with Mobilization and Cultural Program at Central Shaheed Minar
The historic Central Shaheed Minar witnessed a mobilization and cultural program on Wednesday, 10 December 2025, as Bangladesh Mahila Parishad (BMP) observed World Human Rights Day 2025, reaffirming its commitment to human rights and social justice.
The program was chaired by Dr. Fauzia Moslem, President of Bangladesh Mahila Parishad (BMP). Maleka Banu, General Secretary of BMP, delivered the welcome address. On behalf of the Central Committee of BMP, the declaration was read out by Rabeya Khatun Shanti, Secretary of the Movement Department.
Following the declaration, the cultural segment featured musical performances by Mahmudul Hasan and his team (Jagoron); an Indigenous dance by Mukta Thakur and her team; a Hill Tracts dance by Colors of Hill; a solo dance performance by Ipsita Mahottam; and a choreographed performance by Karishma Cultural Group. Poetry was recited by Dolan Krishna Shil, IT Coordinator of Bangladesh Mahila Parishad, while a group poetry recitation was presented by Swarabyanjan (Suprobha Seboti and her team).
General Secretary Maleka Banu stated that during the 1993 Vienna World Conference on Human Rights, women across the world raised a strong and united voice demanding the recognition of women’s rights as human rights and declaring violence against women as a violation of human rights. She emphasized that the declaration of universal human rights alone does not automatically ensure women’s human rights; special and focused attention is required.
She emphasized that education, health, employment, security, dignity, justice, non-discrimination, decent work, and equal pay for equal work, along with the rights of third gender persons, marginalized communities, women with disabilities, minorities, and equal access to property, resources, and state governance, are all fundamental human rights. She noted that violence against women remains the greatest barrier worldwide to realizing these rights, making resistance to such violence an inseparable part of the women’s human rights movement. In this context, she said, World Human Rights Day stands in solidarity with the International 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence.
Referring to recent violations of women’s human rights in the country, she expressed concern over misinformation and negative propaganda against Rokeya, a pioneer of women’s liberation. She questioned the role of the state in addressing this issue and called on all to stand united against forces obstructing the advancement of women’s human rights.
President Dr. Fauzia Moslem stated that human rights are fundamental to everyday life, rooted in the principles of equality, dignity, and justice, for which the Constitution holds the people, the state, and political parties accountable. She noted that the amended ordinance of the National Human Rights Commission fails to adequately address women’s issues and emphasized that violence against women remains the most pressing challenge, with the state’s response still insufficient. She called on the government to move beyond symbolic measures and take effective action to end violence against women, ensure equal rights to property, and fully ratify and implement the CEDAW Convention.
On behalf of the Central Committee of BMP, Rabeya Khatun Shanti read out the declaration. She stated that Bangladesh’s social structure, customs, and traditions are deeply influenced by patriarchal culture, placing women in a subordinate position. Due solely to their gender identity, women face rape, sexual harassment, domestic violence, and other forms of abuse, resulting in continuous violations of their human rights.
She further emphasized that, alongside women, Indigenous peoples, persons with disabilities, Dalit communities, and other marginalized groups are subjected to various forms of discrimination, and violations of their human rights persist regularly.
In this context, BMP demanded the protection of the constitutionally guaranteed human rights of all citizens and declared the following demands:
1. Strengthening social movements to establish women’s rights as human rights.
2. Ensuring the human rights of women, Indigenous peoples, persons with disabilities, Dalits, and all marginalized communities.
3. Speedy and fair justice for all forms of violence against women, including cyber violence.
4. A collective stand against the culture of hatred, intolerance, and division.
5. Mobilizing the youth to build a united movement against discrimination, inequality, and violence.
6. Promoting mutual harmony, empathy, patience, and tolerance in society and standing united to secure the rights of victims of oppression and discrimination.
7. Reconstituting the National Human Rights Commission to ensure it functions as an independent, strong, and impartial body.
8. Immediate enactment and implementation of an Anti-Discrimination Law.
9. Withdrawal of reservations from Articles 2 and 16(1)(c) of the CEDAW Convention and ensuring its full ratification and implementation.
The mobilization and cultural program were attended by over 200 participants, including organizers of the Central Committee of Bangladesh Mahila Parishad, secretaries, representatives of member organizations of the Social Action Committee such as BLAST and Trade Union Kendra, as well as journalists from print and electronic media.
The mobilization program was conducted by Rekha Saha, Legal Aid Secretary of the central committee of Bangladesh Mahila Parishad, and the cultural program was conducted by Jana Goswami, Director of Advocacy and Networking.
