Knowledge Fair on SRHR brings together hundreds of experts
Share-Net Bangladesh organised the third and largest Knowledge Fair on Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) held in the capital’s Spectra Convention Center on September 9, 2018. The aim of the program was to stimulate exchanging of knowledge on SRHR.
The Honourable Minister, Ministry of Information, People’s Republic of Bangladesh, Hasanul Haq Inu graced the event as Chief Guest along with Jeroen Steeghs, Deputy Head of Mission of the Kingdom of the Netherlands as the Special Guest.
The Minister spoke on the importance of SRHR in the development of any country. Stating Sexual and Reproductive Health as a fundamental human rights issue, he said, “A lack of discussion on the topic is known to cause detrimental effects in both the society and the economy. Spreading knowledge on SRHR can improve family planning, maternal and child health, and on a larger scale, it also helps prevent sexual harassment, gender-based violence, and other forms of discrimination.”
The Knowledge Fair hosted by RedOrange Media & Communications attracted nearly 300 participants of SRHR practitioners, researchers, gender specialists, academicians, legal experts, development practitioners and the media.
Arnob Chakrabarty, Managing Director, RedOrange Media and Communications and Ella de Voogd, Senior SRHR and Gender Specialist, RedOrange Media and Communications welcomed the guests for the day-long event.
Ella de Voogd, chaired a session with representatives from Share-Net Netherlands, Burundi,Jordan and Bangladesh on the importance of a knowledge platform on SRHR.
Plenary sessions on SRHR for People with Disabilities, on Gender Based Violence and on SRHR for Young People/Comprehensive Sexuality Education was conducted by Sara Hossain, Executive Director, BLAST, Mahmuda Rahman Khan, Senior Program Development Specialist (Gender Advisor) and Shale Ahmed, Executive Director, Bandhu respectively.
Informative research findings were accessible through oral and poster presentations during the knowledge fair.
Simultaneously, stalls from different national and international organisations were accommodated in the event where they showcased materials of their organisations.
This knowledge fair ensured that youth voice is being heard and taken into account. A youth hub was organised with youth participants from BLAST, Serac Bangladesh, RHSTEP and Bandhu Social Welfare Organisation. Through interactive sessions like “The Art Therapy,” the hub tried to articulate their voice.
Annie Vestjens, First Secretary, SRHR & Gender, Embassy of the Kingdom of Netherlands ended the fair with a vote of thanks.
Through several interactive sessions and with active participation of member organisations as well as representatives from Share-Net country-hubs, the Knowledge Fair showcased research findings, lessons learned, policy implications and innovative strategies to its members and Community of Practice (CoP) who are working on SRHR.
