Rohingya Women are Leaders of Change, Says Advocate
Rohingya Women are Leaders of Change, Says Advocate
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Rohingya women are emerging as resilient leaders and agents of change within their communities, challenging the common perception of them as only victims of conflict. This is according to a report by Shobha Shukla, a health and development advocate, which features insights from Noor Fatima of the Rohingya Maìyafuìnor Collaborative Network, published on Modern Ghana.
The report highlights the significant challenges faced by Rohingya women and girls, particularly in terms of health and gender equality. Fatima notes that progress on key Sustainable Development Goals (SDG-3 and SDG-5) has been slow, with vulnerable women and girls often left behind. Common issues include a lack of knowledge about reproductive health, the stigma surrounding menstruation, and the neglect of mental health. Access to healthcare is also a major barrier due to fear, language differences, and a lack of proper documentation.
Despite these obstacles, the article highlights several “sparks of change” led by young people. Through the Rohingya Women’s Collaborative Network, they have created safe spaces for discussion, established trauma healing circles, and launched digital literacy programs. The network is also training young Rohingya women to become community health advocates, empowering them to address health disparities from within their own communities.
Fatima’s message to the world is to move beyond symbolic inclusion and toward meaningful empowerment. She advocates for direct investment in youth-led initiatives, ensuring that funding goes directly to young leaders on the ground. She also calls for the active involvement of refugee and marginalized youth in policy design and implementation, and for the creation of accessible educational pathways. The report concludes by urging the world to see refugee youth not just as vulnerable individuals, but as leaders who deserve to be empowered with shared decision-making power and resources.
