Policy advocacy seminar for women fisher-folks rights in the national policies

Badabon Sangho organized national seminar titled, women fisher-folk inclusion in the policy’ partnering with Dept. of Fisheries and The Business Standard on July 3, 2024, at the International Mother Language Institute in Dhaka. Total 42 participants (12 women and 30 men) including Zillur Rahman, Additional Director General of Dept of Fisheries, Aminur Rasul, Human Rights Activist, Masuda Khanam, Chief Scientific Officer (Fisheries Planning and Survey), Directorate of Fisheries, Iftekhar Mahmood, Special Correspondent, Prothom Alo, Riaz Ahmed, Executive Editor, Dhaka Tribune, Samia Sultana, Deputy Registrar, Department of Cooperatives, Taslima Akhter, Assistant Director, Department of Fisheries, Zahid Nawaz Khan, Head of Digital at Business Standard, Shohana Islam, Coordinator- Sanghat and other activists and govt. officials.  The seminar aimed to address discrimination and violation faced by women fisherfolk, particularly in coastal areas where they lack recognition, social safety net and access to services. It was discussed that women often face discrimination compared to male and are mostly involved in fishing in cannel and rivers. The keynote paper was presented by Fariha Jesmin, Senior Programme Officer, that demanded The term “fisherman” should be made gender-neutral to include both male and female individuals engaged in fishing activities especially in the Fisher-folk Identification and Registration Manul 2019. It is evident that many women fishermen do not receive identity cards and face various forms of social discrimination. Clarifying the legal status of fishermen under the Bangladesh Labour Act-2006 could provide proper assistance to them as workers. In some regions, women are not directly involved in fishing and selling at sea, but they are extensively involved in harvesting and sorting fish. In such cases, consideration should be given to whether harvesting and sorting activities can be categorized as occupations under the term “fisherman.”