By: Hafizur Rahman
Cox’s Bazar, May 30, 2025 — In an inspiring display of unity and grassroots leadership, the Youths Led Initiative (YLI) organized a powerful awareness campaign today at the BRAC SMS Community Center, focusing on three urgent and interlinked issues facing the Rohingya community: human trafficking, the dowry system, and the denial of women’s education.
Despite heavy rains throughout the day, the campaign drew a determined crowd—youth representatives from 32 different camps came together, standing shoulder to shoulder to raise their voices against exploitation and silence.
A Call to Action, Rooted in Community
The event’s highlight was a stirring address by Saya Ro Khin Maung, a respected Rohingya youth leader and human rights defender. Speaking from lived experience and deep community ties, he unpacked the root causes of trafficking and dowry, while emphasizing education as a shield of protection and empowerment.
“We are going to observe change in our community—not from outside forces, but from within,” said Saya Ro Khin Maung. “Our sisters fall prey to traffickers because they are unprotected, uneducated, and burdened by dowry demands. That must end.”
He added, “Justice starts with dignity and equality. Ending trafficking and dowry begins with empowering women, rejecting harmful customs, and standing up for each other.”
The campaign also featured a strong message from Chief Advisor Mohammad Ullah of YLI:
“Dowry is not tradition—it is exploitation. Human trafficking is not just a crime—it is a symptom of our silence. We must break that silence.”
Youth Voices Rising
Participants were not just listeners—they were change-makers. They shared reflections, asked questions, and left with concrete tools to raise awareness within their camps.
“This campaign opened my eyes,” said Nur Jahan, a 19-year-old from Camp 11. “I thought dowry and trafficking were too big to change. But now I know even small actions can create waves.”
The organizers encouraged attendees to report trafficking risks, support women’s access to education, and challenge dowry practices in their own families and communities.
In a closing statement, YLI declared:
“This is our collective responsibility. We must protect our women, defend our dignity, and stand united against exploitation. Change starts here—and it starts with us.”
A Movement in Motion
This campaign is part of YLI’s broader mission to create a safer, more equitable society for Rohingya refugees, where the value of a person is not measured in gold or silence, but in dignity, education, and justice.
📞 For more information or to support YLI’s work:
Phone: +880 1873-998679
Email: youthsledinitiativeyli@gmail.com
