SERAC-Bangladesh has successfully organized a participatory research initiative titled `Silent Frames Loud Voices: Exploring SRHR through Community Lens’ has been carried out through photovoice on behalf of the ‘Improving SRHR in Dhaka project, technical supported by Ipas Bangladesh and funded by Global Affairs Canada through Health Bridge Foundation of Canada.
In the photovoice exhibition, distinguished guests in attendance included A. F. M. Alauddin Khan, Additional Secretary and Project Director of UPHCSDP-II as Chief guest, Dr. Md. Moniruzzaman Siddiqui, Director, Maternal and Child Health (Services), DGFP, Dr. Farid Uddin Ahmed, Line Director, CCSDP, DGFP, SM Shaikat, Executive Director, SERAC-Bangladesh, Joe Goodings, Head of Cooperation, High Commission of Canada, Bangladesh, Dr. Syed Rubayet, The Country Director of Ipas Bangladesh attended the event. Other partner organizations from BAPSA, RHSTEP, and OGSB as well as journalists from various media outlets were present to add value of the event.
The exhibition sheds light on the overall situation of sexual and reproductive health and rights of women and adolescents living in low socio-economic areas of the capital Dhaka through 26 photo stories collected by 25 young volunteers (Projonon Shasthya Bondhu) under the supervision of SERAC- Bangladesh. The photo stories presented in the exhibition deal with issues such as Family Planning, post-abortion care, Reproduction coercion, Sexual and Gender-Based Violence, and violation of the rights of women and girls. The photovoice exhibition aimed to create a greater level of discussion which served as powerful evidence demanding wider advocacy and community mobilization.
After visiting the Gallery, AFM Alauddin Khan said, “The pictures are silent but without saying anything, these pictures give us many messages, which highlight the differences in the socio-cultural context. Through pictures and stories, our social status, educational status, and inconsistencies are exposed”.
SM Shaikat said, highlighted that, “A lot of things happen, which remain hidden. We only hear stories of abuse of girls. But boys are also being abused in various ways. We cannot know those stories. We have brought up those stories so that others are aware.” He also added, “adolescent changes are inevitable, but due to a lack of proper education and information, they face various challenges and fall into traps. They mostly live in the world of fantasy. So, we need to take initiatives like this exhibition for the teenagers of our country, which will bring positive change considering their needs and thoughts.
Joe Goodings said, “The real scene can only be understood if the pictures in this exhibition can be felt.” If the problems can be identified in this way, it will be easier to take the necessary steps to solve the problem. Appreciating this initiative, he said, this exhibition has made us think about what changes we really need to make.
Volunteer- Saidul Islam Rabbi brought up the story of a woman who got pregnant because she did not follow the rules.
Volunteer- Yasin Arafat Rabbi said, “Many people do not take the family planning method properly. I have mentioned in my story a domestic worker who used to take injections every three months and still got pregnant. This phenomenon is infrequent. We get many such cases at the community level.
Volunteer- Montaher Arafat told the story of Bithi’s life which became miserable as a survivor of cyberbullying. In the story, Arafat said, 16-year-old Bithi fell in love with a boy when she was in seventh grade. She unknowingly shares her private photos with her boyfriend. After a few days, when the boy broke up, he threatened her in various ways. Threatened to show pictures to parents, and neighbors. At one point he sent the pictures to many people. The girl was mentally disturbed by this.
Volunteer- Arif Khan said, “A relative of mine, who is known to me, risked his life while trying to get an abortion by taking medicine from a pharmacy. Victims also hesitate to talk about these incidents that happen in our society. They don’t want anyone to know anything about them. But we provide reproductive health awareness training in the community. They have the courage to talk to us about these things. They also now want people to know these things, to inform others.”
In one story, university student- Johny Akhter narrated what happened to her. Johnny said, “I was sexually assaulted by a girlfriend. Since then, I have been mentally disturbed. But I can’t tell anyone about these things. Everyone laughs. And I should get that girlfriend counseling. He also needs treatment. But if these things remain unknown, then people will not know. So that people can learn from my story, that is why I have presented the story in this exhibition.”
The exhibition was visited by visitors of various ages and professions, among whom the majority were students.