International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women will be observed today in Bangladesh like elsewhere across the world. This year’s theme of the day is building partnerships to combat violence against women.
The United Nations has been observing the day since 1999 starting with a 16-day global campaign for instituting women’s human rights from November 25 to December 10.
The government and different rights organisations will observe the day across the country through month-long programmes.
An official of the women and children affairs ministry told New Age that they would put up posters on violence against women in all districts from today.
The official also said the ministry would organise human chains across the country on December 2 with state minister Shirin Sharmin Chowdhury inaugurating the programme at Mymensingh.
At a news conference organised on the occasion at the National Press Club, leaders of the Bangladesh Mohila Parishad demanded immediate implementation of the laws concerned to stop violence against women.
The day has been being observed in Bangladesh since 1996, the Parishad’s chairperson, Ayesha Khanam, said, adding, ‘This time we are focusing on sexual harassment and stalking as these crimes have caused 22 deaths till September this year’.
She urged the government to enact a Uniform Family Code and a separate act to deal with sexual harassment. The Parishad’s chief also demanded full implementation of the Domestic Violence (Protection and Prevention) Act, 2010 and amendment to the Women and Children Repression Prevention Act, 2000.
The Parishad’s leaders also demanded implementation of the court verdict against Fatwa, formation of a network of women of the South Asian Association of Regional Cooperation countries and enactment of a law to deal with women and child trafficking.
They also urged the families, people, administration, people’s representatives, the mass media, and women of the country to be aware about and prevent violence against women.
The Parishad will organise a cultural programme today at the Rabindra Sarabar at 3:00pm and distribute stickers, posters and leaflets at all the schools in the city. It will also broadcast television spots on different public and private TV channels, publish special bulletins in newspapers, and organise a number of training programmes for youths and seminars for panel lawyers on the Domestic Violence (Protection and Prevention) Act, 2010 until December 10.
The Parishad’s acting secretary general Masuda Rehana Begum, Masuda Akter Laili, Shahana Kabir, Nurjahan Khan, Nahar Ahmed, and Biswajit Saha were also present at the news conference.
Another women’s organisation, Karmajibi Nari, at a news briefing at the Dhaka Reporters’ Unity, demanded approval and implementation of the National Women Development Policy, 1997.
The rights organisation’s president, Shirin Akhter, said Bangladesh would never become a developed country without the development of its women.
She demanded a separate act against sexual harassment, women-friendly work places, and change of attitude of men towards women’s empowerment.
Karmajibi Nari will take out a procession and hold a rally today at Muktangan in the city. It will also organise human chains, cultural programmes, meetings, and seminars across the country until December 23.
The organisation’s executive director, Rokeya Rafique, director, Mahmuda Imam, coordinator, Rahela Rabbani, and regional heads were also present at the briefing.
Moreover, 47 organisations will organise protest programmes at all the 64 districts under the banner of the Implementation Committee for International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women.
Bangladesh Nari Pragati Sangha will mark the day through a roundtable on gender sensitive education system to establish the equality of women and men at the National Press Club today.
