Disability and Gender Justice

In this episode of Backlash, Resistance and the Path to Gender Justice, we explore how gender and disability rights intersect in Bangladesh. As civic and digital spaces shrink, women and gender-diverse persons with disabilities face systemic barriers that silence their voices and limit access to rights, services, and representation. We hear from two leading advocates about the structural inequalities that persist, and the ways in which disability-led organisations are resisting exclusion and demanding justice.

Advisory note: This episode includes discussion of sensitive topics, including sexual violence.

In this episode:

Ishrat Jahan - Research Fellow at the Centre for Gender and Sexual and Reproductive Health at BRAC James P. Grant School of Public Health in Dhaka, Bangladesh.

Ishrat’s research focuses on the intersection of gender, health, and environmental issues. Ishrat is involved in national and international projects exploring the impact of climate change on women’s health, adaptive practices in marginalised communities, and Global South-led curricula in higher education.

Salma Mahbub - General Secretary, Bangladesh Society for the Change and Advocacy Nexus (B-SCAN)

Salma is the Founder General Secretary of B-SCAN, a women-led DPO in Bangladesh advocating for accessibility, inclusive education, employment, and women’s rights. She also serves as General Secretary of PNSP, a national OPD network. Her work centres on policy advocacy, accessibility, and the empowerment of persons with disabilities.

Ayon Debnath - Campaign Adviser, Sightsavers

Ayon is a disability rights advocate and Campaign Adviser at Sightsavers, leading the Equal Bangladesh campaign. He works with over 30 organisations to promote inclusive governance, policy reform, and public awareness. Ayon brings over 15 years of national and international experience in advocacy for disability justice.

Useful Links (including other episodes in this series)

• Sightsavers - Equal Bangladesh
• B-Scan - Bangladesh Society for the Change and Advocacy Nexus
• CREA - Feminist Human Rights - Our Voices Our Futures
• Countering Backlash - Reclaiming Gender Justice
• Allyship in Gender Justice
• Gender Backlash and the Erosion of Everyday Rights
• Tackling Gender Backlash During Crises

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