Panchbibi, Joypurhat, Bangladesh | October 2026

Action and Light is strengthening community-based mechanisms to promote gender equality, prevent gender-based violence, and improve access to justice through the MSF EmpowerHer Project in Panchbibi Upazila of Joypurhat District, Bangladesh.

The organisation has established and facilitates Union Gender Equality Forums (UGFs) in eight Union Parishads: Balighata, Ayma Rasulpur, Kusumba, Dharanji, Bagjana, Atapara, Aulai, and Mohammadpur. These forums are connected through anPanchbibi Upazila Gender Equality Forum (PUGF), creating a coordinated platform for community engagement, human rights protection, and access to essential services.

Inclusive Community Participation

Each Union Gender Equality Forum comprises 30 members representing diverse sections of society, including ethnic, linguistic, gender, and religious minorities with elected local government representatives. This inclusive approach enables community members to identify local challenges, raise concerns, and participate in collective action to advance human rights and gender equality.

The forums are facilitated by Md. Biplab Ali, Upazila Facilitator of Action and Light, in coordination with the District Human Rights Monitoring Officer of Action and Light and under the direct supervision of the organization's Executive Committee.

Key Activities and Progress in October 2026

During October 2026, Action and Light continued to strengthen the forums through regular meetings, peer learning, legal assistance, fact findings and community-level human rights initiatives.

Key achievements include:

• Eight Union Gender Equality Forum meetings successfully conducted across the eight unions.
• Eight peer-learning sessions conducted to strengthen members’ knowledge, experience-sharing, and capacity to respond to gender equality and human rights concerns.
• Legal assistance provided in Dharanji Union to support a woman seeking access to justice.
• Fact-finding initiative underway to document a reported human rights violation at the local level.
• Linkages with government skill-development programmes facilitated to connect forum members with opportunities for skills training and capacity development.

These activities are helping strengthen community participation, improve awareness of available services, and build local capacity to address human rights concerns.

Promoting Access to Justice and Essential Services

The forums work to prevent gender-based violence, promote human rights, and connect community members with government and non-government services. They also collaborate with Union Legal Aid Committees, provide litigation-related support to survivors, and undertake fact-finding initiatives to document human rights violations.

Through monthly meetings and peer-learning sessions, forum members share experiences, identify emerging concerns, and strengthen their ability to respond to the needs of vulnerable individuals and communities.

The coordinated Upazila Gender Equality Forum provides an additional platform for sharing local experiences, identifying common challenges, and strengthening collaboration across the eight unions.

Commitment to Sustainable Community Support

Action and Light recognizes that protecting human rights requires accessible support systems, community participation, and effective coordination among local institutions and service providers. The organization remains committed to supporting survivors of human rights violations and facilitating access to appropriate assistance, with a commitment to round-the-clock responsiveness to urgent protection needs.

By strengthening grassroots leadership and inclusive community networks, Action and Light aims to contribute to safer communities, greater gender equality, and improved access to justice throughout Panchbibi Upazila.

Project Acknowledgement

This initiative is implemented by Action and Light under the MSF EmpowerHer Project, in collaboration with Manobadhikar Sangskriti Foundation (MSF). The project is funded by the Embassy of Switzerland, Global Affairs Canada, and the European Union, and managed by GFA Consulting Group.