On 25 May 2025, tehncial supported by BNPS, Ananya Kallyan Sangathon (AKS) Bandarban has organized a day long advocacy and Lobby Meeting at Ananya Center -Bandarban. Moderated by A MonG, Program Director of AKS organization, there were participated 25 numbers of Headmen, Karbariies Local Leaders, Journalists and Activist Women Forum members. In the meetings there were discussed on Gender Base Violence (GBV), Child Marriage, Marriage Certificate and Women Leadership in Customary Laws adaptation. During the discussion all particiapants shared their own perspective and what to do. The all participate agreed that they will keep free from their village or jurisdiction area that no child get marriage before 18 years old, moreove they will keep marriage restructuration when any new couple come to them for marriage, even they will encourage other headmen and karbani to keep registration of Marriage as it is very necessary to get any government services, VISA, Children education, land and other property ownership etc. The meeting was chaired by MS Dawnai Prue Naly, Executive Director, AKS, Bandarban.
Advocacy and Lobby Meeting Organized by Ananya Kallyan Sangathon (AKS)
Date: 25 May 2025 | Venue: Ananya Center, Bandarban
With technical support from BNPS, Ananya Kallyan Sangathon (AKS), Bandarban, organized a day-long Advocacy and Lobby Meeting on 25 May 2025 at the Ananya Center, Bandarban. The meeting was moderated by A. Mong, Program Director of AKS.
A total of 25 participants attended the meeting, including Headmen, Karbaris, local leaders, journalists, and members of the Activist Women Forum.
The meeting focused on several critical issues:
- Gender-Based Violence (GBV)
- Child Marriage
- Marriage Certification
- Women’s Leadership and Inclusion in Customary Law Adaptation
During the discussions, all participants actively shared their views, experiences, and suggestions for action. A collective commitment was made by all attendees to:
- Ensure that no child marriage takes place in their villages or areas of jurisdiction, strictly maintaining the legal age of marriage at 18 years.
- Implement marriage registration whenever a new couple approaches them for marriage, ensuring legal documentation.
- Encourage other Headmen and Karbaris to adopt the practice of marriage registration, highlighting its necessity for access to:
- Government services
- Visa and travel processes
- Children’s education
- Land and property ownership rights
The meeting was chaired by Ms. Dawnai Prue Naly, Executive Director of AKS, Bandarban, who thanked all participants for their valuable contributions and reaffirmed AKS’s commitment to promoting gender justice and legal empowerment within customary systems.
