The International Labour Organization (ILO) and United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) have agreed to strengthen their collaboration in Bangladesh around activities of common interest, in particular efforts to combat sexual and gender based violence as well as to strengthen sexual and reproductive health rights.

A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between ILO and UNFPA in Dhaka 30 November 2016 by Mr. Srinivas B. Reddy, ILO Country Director for Bangladesh and Ms. Argentina Matavel Piccin, Country Representative of UNFPA in Bangladesh in the presence of Mr. Robert Watkins, UN Resident Coordinator. Mr. Sarat Das, Chief of Mission, IOM Dhaka was also present during the ceremony.

This agreement between ILO and UNFPA will help multiply the impact of our interventions to counter violence in the workplace as well as promote the rights of workers relating to sexual and reproductive health. - Srinivas Reddy

The MoU will guide both agencies to collaborate on matters of common interest under the United Nations Development Assistance Framework for Bangladesh and the Sustainable Development Goals. The partnership between the two UN Agencies will help make workplaces free of sexual and gender based violence as well as more supportive of the sexual and reproductive health rights of women and girls.