UN Emphasizes Safety and Inclusion of Women in Bangladesh Elections

In a statement released from Dhaka on Wednesday, February 11, the UN emphasized that free and fearless participation in a democratic process is a fundamental right for all.

The statement noted deep concerns raised by women's organizations and civil society regarding harassment and violence directed at female candidates. A particular surge in cyberbullying has been observed, including the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) to create "deepfake" videos and distorted images to malign female politicians on online platforms. The UN asserted that it is the responsibility of the relevant authorities to ensure that no woman—whether a political leader, activist, journalist, or human rights defender—is subjected to sexualized content or orchestrated harassment.

Specific focus was placed on women with disabilities, those from minority communities, and gender-diverse individuals. The UN stressed that ensuring a safe voting environment for those most vulnerable to discrimination is critical. The statement also confirmed that the UN is providing technical assistance to the Bangladesh Election Commission (EC) to boost female participation. Notably, while women constitute more than half of the 128 million registered voters, they represent only 4% of the candidates—a statistic that has drawn previous concern from human rights groups.

The United Nations urged all political leaders, parties, and their supporters to refrain from any form of violence or intimidation against women during the electoral process. Reaffirming its commitment, the UN expressed support for the measures taken by the government and security forces to ensure the protection of every individual and pledged continued cooperation as needed.