Newly appointed UNFPA Regional Director visits ANU and the Gender Institute

On Monday 24th November, The Australian National University (ANU) hosted the interactive roundtable, Safe and Inclusive Spaces for Women and Girls Online and Offline, as a part of their Gender Institute Annual Symposium on Feminist Futures in Precarious Times. Taking part during the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence, this roundtable session particularly highlights this year’s theme: #NoExcuse for online abuse. The roundtable brought together scholars, practitioners and policy-makers from CEVAW and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA). 

CEVAW Chief Investigator, Professor Bina D’Costa, moderated the UNFPA/CEVAW session with a keynote from newly appointed UNFPA Regional Director for Asia and the Pacific, ad interim Aleksandar (Sasha) Bodiroza (pictured below). Dr Sasha Bodiroza shared key insights from his valuable work in Afghanistan and beyond, reminding everyone of the challenges we face in navigating the current global complexities, including gender backlash. He noted that, as UN staff, the experience of working with diverse perspectives, and at times having to rationalise with the irrational, has become part of the new normal. The new UNFPA Regional Director attended with Ms. Bidisha Pilla (UNFPA Representative for the Pacific). Hon. Associate Professor, and CEVAW Advisory Council Member Sally Moyle and CEVAW Research Fellow, Dr Zoe Bell, responded highlighting CEVAWs’ community-led research that elevates survivors’ voices, collaboration, and trauma-informed efforts.

The session was solution-focused and highlighted the importance of addressing gender based violence to create safer spaces, both online and offline, for all women and girls. Discussions centred on the intersection of global conflicts, climate change, displacement, humanitarian crisis, disability and gender, with barriers to family planning, bodily autonomy and access to education and services.

“It was wonderful to have Hon. Associate Professor Sally Moyle (CEVAW) and Dr Zoe Bell (CEVAW) respond to Sasha’s presentation and highlight some of our ongoing research.

This event showcased CEVAW’s collaboration with UNFPA. We are grateful to you and UNFPA colleagues for the efforts that made it possible.”

– Professor Bina D’Costa (Roundtable Chair)

Speakers
Dr Sasha Bodiroza has been appointed UNFPA Regional Director for Asia and the Pacific, ad interim. He has served as Deputy Regional Director since 2023, and brings 27 years of experience in humanitarian and development contexts. Sasha has led UNFPA’s work in complex settings, including Afghanistan, where he positioned the agency as a major humanitarian responder, and Egypt, where he expanded programmes to reduce maternal mortality, meet family planning needs, and address gender-based violence. Known for building partnerships and navigating crises, he champions rights and choices for women and young people across diverse contexts.

Dr. Zoe Bell is a social worker and Research Fellow at the Coral Bell School of Asia and the Pacific at ANU. working at the intersection of statelessness and refugeehood. Zoe has over 15 years’ experience across child protection, trauma, domestic and family violence, and forced migration. Since 2020, she has been supporting community development initiatives in the Rohingya community. Most significant of which is the formation of the Australian Rohingya Women’s Development Organisation (ARWDO). Zoe applies a practice orientated and feminist philosophy to research incorporating participatory action principles and non-traditional methods of engagement such as arts-based, movement based and community building initiatives. Her current research with CEVAW, focuses on extreme vulnerability and violence of displaced communities in Asia and Australia.

Sally Moyle is an Honorary Associate Professor at ANU, associated with the Gender Institute, and an Advisory Council member of CEVAW. Sally has worked for over three decades to advance gender equality, social justice and international development. She is the Deputy Chair of the National Foundation for Australian Women, and Director at Plan International Australia, as well as pursuing a range of paid and unpaid gender equality work. Until August 2019, Sally was the Chief Executive Officer at CARE Australia, and, between 2013 and 2016, was the Principal Gender Specialist and Assistant Secretary with the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. Sally has been in senior executive roles in the Australian Government since 2008. She had senior roles at the Australian Human Rights Commission, the Australian Law Reform Commission and practised as a lawyer.