30th Annual Human Rights and Peoples Diplomacy Program – Thailand
DTP alumna Dr Asma Abbasi is working with the International Labour Organisation (ILO) to promote and protect the rights of women, and to develop women’s skills and leadership in Bangladesh’s readymade garment (RMG) sector. Outside of her work, Asma is also active advocating for women and children who are experiencing domestic violence and abuse – and for Bangladeshi migrant workers who need assistance. Asma’s commitment to working on issues of gender equality and justice was forged growing up and seeing women being treated as second-class citizens. Asma says, ‘I observed how women were being deprived of their rights and justice. Even when they seek their rights or justice, they are often victimized further with new forms.’
Many women from her home district of Madaripur, 70 kilometre south of the capital Dhaka city, move to work in Bangladesh’s RMG sector, or migrate overseas on temporary contracts. Her PhD was examined barriers for access to justice in rural Bangladesh.
Bangladesh’s RMG sector supplies clothes to the world. It employs over 1.5 million mainly women workers in. It is a vital part of Bangladesh’s economy but has become synonymous with exploitation and dangerous working conditions. Dhaka’s Rana Plaza fire in 2013 killed over 1100 mainly women factory workers, in one of the world’s most notorious industrial accidents/crimes of negligence.
One response to this tragedy was the ILO’s Better Work Project and Asma works for this project’s specialized 10-day training program called Gender Equality and Returns (GEAR). This program develops women leadership and career advancement in Bangladesh’s RMG sector, boosting confidence through training in various soft skills.
Asma also helps women facing domestic violence or abuse. Many do not know what to do or where to go and Asma connects them with legal aid organizations and other sourcse of support.
“DTP’s training taught me that to influence social justice you don’t need to be at the front, you could contribute from different ways, in or off scene.”
Many women from Bangladesh migrate for work in Singapore, Malaysia and the Gulf, where they are vulnerable to abuse, and Asma takes up some of these cases. Asma said that thanks to the DTP training she now has some friends working in the legal aid sectors in the region who she could reach out for help or support in these cases. She now has an effective network outside of Bangladesh. Asma is deeply committed to continuing her work contributing to women’s rights and equality in Bangladesh, and sees this work as connected to the work of others.
“A key takeaway from DTP training for me was to make new friends in the region. I met many human rights advocates in the training from Asia with whom I formed long lasting friendship. We keep in touch via whatsapp. One of our fellow coursemates is Geeta Chaudhary, a newly elected MP and Minister in Nepal and I know I could reach out to Geeta if I need to.”
