Adhara Ayndrila

Adhara is the 19-year-old founder of Voices Against Violence, a Dhaka-based non-profit youth organisation that aims to raise awareness about gender-based violence. Her journey as a gender activist began in 2020 in response to a significant rise in rape cases across the country, when she organised the 'Movement Against Rape' protest, which included hundreds of female students. During the protest, she realised that she needed to develop a long-term platform to mobilise the Bangladeshi youth to combat GBV. Adhara and her team at Voices Against Violence have since been researching and creating educational content on the cause, legal barriers, policies, and repercussions of gender-based violence.

Outside of her organisation, she uses her social media platform and competitive debating to raise awareness of other social injustices; and as a member of the Youth Policy Forum, she regularly writes about international politics and advocates for minority rights.

Adhara’s ambition is to become a policymaker and to ensure equitable economic and social opportunities for vulnerable communities, particularly gender and religious minorities.

One action Amanda would like everyone to take:

“Observe your surroundings and try to notice the symptoms of rape culture in your daily life. Hold people accountable when they make sexist remarks, create scope for misogynistic practices, discriminate against people on unfair grounds, and take part in gender-based violence themselves. Hold the state institutions and political parties accountable as well when they try to enact discriminatory policies that obstruct justice and equality.”

Follow Adhara on Facebook.