This project titled ‘The Collaborative Actions for Promoting Digital and Civic Space and Combating Gender Disinformation‘ is carried out by VOICE and the Daily Ittefaq and under the Collaboration Lab initiative, in partnership with Article 19 and Free Press Unlimited. Launched in October 2024, the project’s primary goal is to create a safe, inclusive digital environment by promoting digital rights and combating gender disinformation. Through extensive media monitoring, knowledge exchange, and stakeholder collaboration, we aim to advance policy advocacy and protect civic space for all.
The Daily Ittefaq:
Established in 1953 by Tofazzal Hossain Manik Miah, a legendary journalist, The Daily Ittefaq is the oldest and most widely circulated newspapers in Bangladesh. Currently Tasmima Hossain is the Editor and Tareen Hossain is the Publisher of The Daily Ittefaq being a beacon of democracy and fearless journalism in Bangladesh. Today, this newspaper has evolved into its digital version ittefaq.com.bd (Daily Ittefaq) along with e-paper and English version. The Digital platform Ittefaq.com.bd (Daily Ittefaq) has made its place as one of the most admired and most visited websites worldwide.
With a daily circulation of approximately 300,000 copies, it reaches an estimated 1.5 million people nationwide. Renowned for its fair and independent journalism, The Daily Ittefaq has garnered significant popularity on digital platforms in recent years. At present, it boasts over 10 million followers and 1.2 million subscribers on social media platforms such as Facebook and YouTube, with its website recording 34 million page views from around the world. Daily Ittefaq not only have a constant visitor or reader base, but it also has gained faith and devotion from the readers of Bangladesh. It is the only newspaper in Bangladesh that is holding onto its legacy, complementing the new additions of generations.
Voices for Interactive Choice and Empowerment (VOICE)
VOICE is a rights-based research and advocacy organisation dedicated to addressing issues such as human rights, right to information and communication justice, privacy rights, and data protection, both locally in Bangladesh and on a global scale for the past 24 years. By fostering a diverse constituency of alternative voices within the mainstream development discourse through research and public education, VOICE actively opposes unjust and undemocratic practices.
Engaging with international processes such as the UN World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) and the UN Internet Governance Forum (IGF), VOICE collaborates with concerned government agencies and builds networks to collectively advance key issues. It is a member of numerous national and international networks, including the Governance Coalition, RTI Forum, Asia Pacific Research Network, TAP Networks, Together 2030, and the SDG-16 Now Campaign.
- Foster an enabling environment to promote and safeguard DCS while combatting GD.
- Enhance awareness among relevant stakeholders, providing them with the requisite knowledge and resources to defend DCS effectively and counter GD.
- Facilitate collaboration and knowledge exchange by strengthening networks that actively engage in advocacy to promote DCS and challenge GD.
- Comprehensive documentation of evidence-based findings and cases regarding DCS violation and GD, particularly focusing on Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) target number 16.10 , through rigorous media monitoring.
- Establishment of a dedicated rapid response taskforce to quickly respond to violations of DCS and GD resulting in active advocacy efforts supported by an ‘online information tool’ to provide victims with confirmed pathway of legal/administrative information.
- Facilitation of knowledge sharing and learning on DCS and GD among the Collaboration Lab alliance and a wide array of national, regional, and international stakeholders, fostering a robust network for influential policy advocacy.
Digital and Civic Space
Within the context of SDG 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions), “digital and civic space” refers to the online and offline environments where individuals and groups can freely express themselves, associate, and participate in public life, ensuring access to information and promoting accountability and inclusive decision-making.
Gender Disinformation
Gendered Disinformation is both a strategy to silence the free expression of women and gender nonconforming persons and a threat to their safety and health, as well as a possible form of online gender-based violence.
“Gendered disinformation” is understood as the practice of massively sharing false information and misinformation aiming to attack women and girls, or even members of gender-diverse community – as individuals or collectively – or their rights.
