Combating sexual harassment on women, girls

The government should take effective measures to combat the menace of sexual harassment of women and girls

It is worrying to note that attack and harassment of women and girls is showing no sign of abatement in the country. According to a report in this newspaper yesterday, stalkers beat up twin sisters in the capital’s Mirpur area on Wednesday for protesting abusive words used by them. The victims are HSC first-year students of Mirpur BCIC College. Torture on women, violation of modesty of women and girls after abduction, teasing of school and college going girls by derailed youths make newspaper headlines very often. In fact, repression on women has increased in the country in a horrifying dimension in recent times. 
Seven months have elapsed since the brutal rape and murder of Sohagi Jahan Tonu, a honours student of Comilla College, but the killers are yet to be identified. Risha, a student of Wills Little Flower School, lost her life in the hands of a hoodlum near her school in broad daylight. The recent victim is Khadiza Begum, student of Sylhet Government Women’s College. She has been undergoing treatment at the Square Hospitals in the capital. 
What is alarming is that sexual harassments are leading to suicides. Over the last few months the unprecedented rate of suicide cases among the young girls due to stalking is shocking indeed. In the past many girls committed suicide to escape harassments by stalkers. Sensitive girls finding no other alternatives commit suicide. Many incidents of sexual harassment remain unreported as the majority of the victims of stalking prefer to ignore this out of fear of social disgrace. 
According to psychologists and social scientists stalking is a result of the frustration suffered by a majority of youth. Disappointed by the unbecoming attitude of teachers and indifferent parents, they seek for an outlet to vent their aggression and depression. Moreover, those who do not inherit good values involve in acts of sexual harassment. Sexual harassment increases girls' drop-out rate from school. Parents concerned about their daughter's honour or safety sometimes keep their daughters home and/or marry them off at an early age. 
Girls who are teased or harassed are also pushed into marriage, before they are physically or mentally prepared. Sexual harassment hinders women in participating in the formal employment sector. The government should take effective measures to combat the menace of sexual 
harassment on women and girls. Generation of awareness and cultivation of virtues and moral education may help achieve the goal.   

 

Combating sexual harassment on women, girls

The government should take effective measures to combat the menace of sexual harassment of women and girls

It is worrying to note that attack and harassment of women and girls is showing no sign of abatement in the country. According to a report in this newspaper yesterday, stalkers beat up twin sisters in the capitals Mirpur area on Wednesday for protesting abusive words used by them. The victims are HSC first-year students of Mirpur BCIC College. Torture on women, violation of modesty of women and girls after abduction, teasing of school and college going girls by derailed youths make newspaper headlines very often. In fact, repression on women has increased in the country in a horrifying dimension in recent times. Seven months have elapsed since the brutal rape and murder of Sohagi Jahan Tonu, a honours student of Comilla College, but the killers are yet to be identified. Risha, a student of Wills Little Flower School, lost her life in the hands of a hoodlum near her school in broad daylight. The recent victim is Khadiza Begum, student of Sylhet Government Womens College. She has been undergoing treatment at the Square Hospitals in the capital. What is alarming is that sexual harassments are leading to suicides. Over the last few months the unprecedented rate of suicide cases among the young girls due to stalking is shocking indeed. In the past many girls committed suicide to escape harassments by stalkers. Sensitive girls finding no other alternatives commit suicide. Many incidents of sexual harassment remain unreported as the majority of the victims of stalking prefer to ignore this out of fear of social disgrace. According to psychologists and social scientists stalking is a result of the frustration suffered by a majority of youth. Disappointed by the unbecoming attitude of teachers and indifferent parents, they seek for an outlet to vent their aggression and depression. Moreover, those who do not inherit good values involve in acts of sexual harassment. Sexual harassment increases girls drop-out rate from school. Parents concerned about their daughters honour or safety sometimes keep their daughters home and/or marry them off at an early age. Girls who are teased or harassed are also pushed into marriage, before they are physically or mentally prepared. Sexual harassment hinders women in participating in the formal employment sector. The government should take effective measures to combat the menace of sexual harassment on women and girls. Generation of awareness and cultivation of virtues and moral education may help achieve the goal.