Women’s rights activists on Friday demanded immediate ratification of the ILO convention on domestic workers’ rights and drawing up of a national law in this regard.
Rights organisation Karmojobi Nari formed a human chain in front of the National Press Club to mark the day for resistance against repression on women.
The day marks the rape and murder of Yasmin, a 14-year old domestic worker, by three policemen in 1995.
Speakers at the programme called on the government to immediately ratify the ILO Convention Concerning Decent Work for Domestic Workers and enact a law to ensure domestic workers’ rights, dignity and security.
They said the lack of specific laws to protect the domestic workers was the main reason behind the rising violence against women domestic helps.
Karmojibi Nari executive director Rokeya Rafique said specific law to safeguard the domestic workers’ rights was extremely essential as girls and women formed the largest part of the people engaged in this occupation.
Trimita Chakma of Kapaeeng Foundation said law enforcers needed to show greater responsibility towards dealing with the domestic workers who faced violence.
She also complained that many law enforcers showed lack of sincerity particularly when ethnic minority women sought help or went to file cases.
The speakers also demanded that the violence against women be regarded as human rights violation and called for strict implementation of the laws in this regard.
They also demanded implementation of uniform family code to ensure women’s economic and social rights in a uniform manner irrespective of their religious or communal identity.
Afroza Haq Rina of Jatiya Nari Jote, Rokeya Sultana Anju of Garments Sramik Jote and Kazi Siddikur Rahman of Jatiya Sramik Jote spoke at the programme, among others.
-With New Age input
