Breaking barriers: A Rohingya woman leader transforms her community through Gender Volunteer Programme

For more than 50 years, the Rohingya community in Myanmar has faced systematic persecution, including serious human rights violations. In 2017, so-called “clearance operations” triggered the largest mass exodus of Rohingya, forcing them to flee to neighbouring Bangladesh. Since then, more than 1 million refugees have been living in camps in Cox’s Bazar, their futures still uncertain.

Among them is 27-year-old Khadija (name changed), a Rohingya woman who fled Myanmar under harrowing circumstances.*

“That night, we heard gunshots and screams. Soldiers stormed our village and set our houses on fire. We fled with nothing, hiding in the jungle during the day of Eid-ul-Azha with my family. We walked for 15 days, surviving only on small amounts of food shared by our neighbours, before finally reaching Bangladesh.”

Since 2019, Khadija has been working as a Gender Volunteer with UN Women, motivated by her personal experience of witnessing the vulnerabilities of women and girls.

“I got married for my safety,” she shares. “But it was when I joined UN Women that I truly found my path, working to support Rohingya women and girls. I understand what they are going through because I’ve lived it too.”

UN Women supported Gender Field Officers ensure the continuity of community engagement through a network of 53 Gender Volunteers, 27 women and 26 men, across six camps. These trained volunteers serve as critical links between communities and service-providers, collectively leading 203 community groups and delivering gender-responsive messages on topics such as gender equality and gender-based violence (GBV) prevention, while making essential referrals.

“In the beginning, I didn’t know how to find solutions,” Khadija recalls. “But after receiving training from Gender Field Officers on behavioural change, GBV prevention and protection, I began to feel confident.”

In just six months, she became an active community mobilizer, conducting daily household visits, group meetings, awareness sessions, case documentation and trainings for women and girls.

As a leader of four community groups totaling 40 women and adolescent girls, Khadija provides a strong platform for peer learning and protection advocacy. Her groups are part of a broader community-based network led by Gender Volunteers – each supporting multiple groups across six camps.

“Even during weekends and emergencies, I continue supporting my community. I established the ‘Rohingya Women Empower’ network in the camps, where we conduct weekend awareness sessions on gender messaging to build knowledge and confidence, and raise awareness on women’s human rights.”

This leadership is especially critical in addressing sensitive issues that women may be reluctant to raise with male leaders.

“As a woman Majhi (community leader), I have supported women since 2018 by building trust and addressing issues such as family conflict and violence. Women feel safer speaking with women leaders; women leaders' role is increasingly vital across the camps.” Rashida, female Mahji.

Khadija’s work is not without risk. The deteriorating security in the camps is a constant worry. Sometimes, gender equality advocates hear threats because of their work. But seeing women in her group find the courage to speak up or access a service keeps her motivated. Her work involves handling sensitive cases, often related to GBV, with confidentiality and compassion.

“It’s emotionally challenging, but building trust is essential. As a Gender Volunteer, I carefully refer and follow up on cases to ensure women receive the help they need.”

As awareness of women’s rights grows, women like Khadija are increasingly engaging in dialogue with camp authorities to raise concerns and seek accountability.

“Women need safe spaces and leadership roles, because when women lead, solutions are rooted in lived experience, trust, and community realities.” Silja Rajander, UN Women Head of Sub-office, Cox’s Bazar.

This lived experience is echoed by Khadija:

“We’ve spoken with our Camp-in-Charge (CiC), but we need more female CiCs. Women need safe spaces where we can gather, speak freely, and learn. Women understand each other – we share, listen, and support one another.”

With generous support from the Government of Australia through its Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and the Government of Switzerland through the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation, the UN Women Gender Volunteer network has reached 17,865 women (16,969 Rohingya and 896 from host communities), including 1,092 women with disabilities, with protection and empowerment messaging in 2024.

The programme has also facilitated 5,652 referrals to essential services, affirming the power of refugee-led solutions and the resilience of women leading from the front lines.