Abstract:

A great tragedy should affect everyone, however, in the case of COVID-19, women are injured more than males just because they are women. Deeply ingrained gender discrepancies that always benefitted women were the outcome of COVID-19. The effects of the coronavirus pandemic on GBV policy are examined in this lecture using both theoretical and empirical methods. The findings of the study demonstrate that COVID-19 altered the policy trajectory for gender-based violence and increased the vulnerability of some population groups to it. (GBV).

Relationships between men and women have suffered due to the COVID-19 epidemic, which also altered some of the norms and roles that were in place at the time. The public was first shown a brand-new, unheard-of model, and some studies suggested that this would advance gender equality. Women are still in the same predicament they were in at the beginning, despite the fact that our economy is now open and more people are returning to the workforce. We may be able to see how the post-COVID society has changed how we view family interactions and how this is the start of a good broad trend. First, Covid-19 has improved how work is distributed across families, as can be shown. Another perspective is that males began assisting more with parenting and housework after they realised how much labour women actually perform at home.

If the government implemented gender concerns in its laws and programs, it may have a significant influence on public opinion. Bangladesh makes a commitment to pursuing the Sustainable Development Goals of the 2030 Agenda and gives equality and non-discrimination a priority. The Bangladeshi government has revealed a variety of initiatives and activities to reduce GBV and diminish COVID-19's impacts. The government's gender-sensitive Covid-19 response strategy has placed women at the centre. Although creating gender-sensitive and inclusive policies is simple, executing so effectively is more difficult. In order to safeguard women's health, social security, and financial security, the Ministry of Women and Children Affairs has issued a declaration for an immediate and mid-term recovery reaction. The gender gap may be reduced by empowering women, promoting gender equity through policies and programs, and changing attitudes and societal norms.

Speaker's Biography:

Tarana Begum is an Associate Professor and the Chairperson of the Department of Government and Politics at Jahangirnagar University in Bangladesh. She Begum has almost two decades of expertise in the academic field. She has lectured on topics including Feminism in Political Discourse, Gender and Politics, Comparative Politics, Project Planning and Evaluation, Governance, and Environmental Issues. Tarana holds a Bachelor of Social Science (Honours) in Government and Politics from Jahangirnagar University as well as two Master's degrees, one in MSS in Government and Politics from Jahangirnagar University, Bangladesh and the other in MSc in International Public Administration (IPA) from Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University, Japan in 2012 under the prestigious Joint Japan/World Bank Scholarship Program. Tarana was awarded RMIT International PhD Scholarship (RIPS) to pursue her doctoral studies at the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology University (RMIT).