BYS in collaboration with Plan International launches app “Avoy” to ensure safe movement of girls in Barishal

BYS in partnership with plan International has launched an app named "Avoy" on Saturday to ensure safe movement for girls in the public places in Barishal Metropolitan.

The Business Standard was the media partner of the program, said a BYS press release

Additional Police Commissioner, Barishal Metropolitan Police Md Enamul Haque; Aktar Uddin, Country Co-Coordinator, United Nations Volunteer Bangladesh; Kashfia Feroz, Director, Girls Rights, Plan International Bangladesh; Dr Sumon Rahman, Professor, University of Liberal Arts Bangladesh (ULAB) and Editor, Fact Watch; Siddhartho Goushami, Team Lead-Operation, Innovation Design and Entrepreneur Academy, ICT Division; Ehsan Kabir, Country Representative, IFNB; Swatil Mahmud, Founder, Swayong; Mitul Mahmud, Co-Founder, Swayong and Faez Belal, Executive Director, BYS were present during the launching ceremony of the app.

This app is the first app in Barishal and the southern region with the aim to stop violence against girls.

The main objective of this app is to stop harassment against girls in the public places and ensure a safer city for girls, the release said.

Through this app, girls can easily contact the nearest police station through the emergency hotline number.

There are also great features like Girls rights for their information, Important documents for further study, online courses for capacity building on youth stopping violence against girls, counselling video for mental support and other features for gender sensitise, the release said.

During the launching ceremony, Director of Girls Rights at Plan International Bangladesh Kasfia Feroz said "Avoy will be a great platform for women and adolescents who are coming forward for education and work."

Aktar Uddin, Country Co-Coordinator, UNV Bangladesh said "If we all work together; we can not only reduce but eliminate violence."

Faez Belal Executive Director, BYS said "Through Avoy, teenagers in public places will not only get instant solutions but this app will also help teenagers to develop as a gender sensitive people."