Paper details

Paper authors	Mahbuba Nasreen
In panel on	Let’s make sure that Local Humanitarian Leadership means more women’s leadership in the humanitarian sector
Paper presenter(s) will be presenting	In-Person / Online

Abstract

Women constitute half of the population of Bangladesh. The constitution of the country ensures equality for all segments of population irrespective of age, sex, gender, class and place of birth. However, due to socio-cultural, political and economic reasons all people do not have equal voices and some become more vulnerable than others. In Bangladesh disasters are frequent phenomenon and the country has to be remained prepared to address such emergency situations. People living in the hazardous areas depend on humanitarian response in facing the challenges of emergencies. Due to their gender identify women and girls experience vulnerability during a humanitarian crisis. Pioneering study (Nasreen, 1995; 2012) indicate that despite challenges “women show considerable fortitudes and ingenuity” the way they face the emergency situations. Such resilient roles of women, however, go largely unrecognized. The aim of the present discussion is to argue that women and girls play leadership roles in any emergency context in disaster affected country like, Bangladesh and they should get recognition as leaders in local humanitarian spaces. Local humanitarian agenda must focus on finding the contributions of women: their strengths, voices and finding out space they need. Identifying women’s resilience will be instrumental for upholding the rights of women, which is fundamental to effective humanitarian action.

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