08/03/2026
As International Women’s Day is observed on 8 March, we RWEA extend with our deep respect and solidarity to women across the world. No community can achieve true and sustainable development unless women’s rights, education, health, safety, and meaningful participation are fully ensured. In this context, this year’s theme — “Rights. Justice. Action. For All Women and Girls.” — is not only meaningful, but urgently necessary.
Yet behind these words lies a painful reality we must confront.
In 2017, thousands of Rohingya women and girls suffered unimaginable violence during the atrocities committed by the Myanmar military. Many endured r**e, abuse, displacement, and the destruction of their families and communities. Tragically, the suffering did not end there. During the recent conflict involving the Arakan Army, many Rohingya women once again faced violence, fear, and displacement. Even today, inside the refugee camps in Cox’s Bazar, many women continue to face exploitation, insecurity, and injustice from various actors.
Inside the camps, women live under severe restrictions in nearly every aspect of life. Harmful practices such as the dowry system still persist, pushing some desperate families to marry off their daughters abroad simply to escape the crushing burden of dowry demands. During their journeys fleeing persecution, many women and girls fell into the hands of traffickers and middlemen who exploited their vulnerability.
But the truth we must face is not only about external injustice.
It is also about ourselves.
Within our own community, we too often silence women’s voices, dismiss their concerns, and deny them the space they deserve. When a woman dares to speak for her rights, instead of supporting and protecting her, society frequently criticizes, shames, or discourages her.
And then we ask: Why do women not fight for their rights?
The answer is painfully clear.
For generations, many girls have grown up in environments where they were never taught that they have the right to say “no.” They were rarely given the confidence, freedom, or support needed to defend their dignity and claim their rights.
So the real question is not why women remain silent.
The real question is: When will we change? When will we wake up?
If we truly want justice, dignity, and a better future for our community, the path is clear. We must empower our women and girls, amplify their voices, and stand beside them — not silence them, not ignore them, and not push them into the shadows.
Because a community that suppresses its women can never truly rise.
Photo- Women attendees wait outside a United Council of Rohingya meeting in Cox’s Bazar and in second photo while the gathering proceeds inside with male participants in 6 March 2026
