Gender violence
Development activists at a press conference in Rajshahi recently mentioned that protecting legitimate rights of the women together with freeing them from all sorts of violence could be the effective means of overall development of the society and the nation as well. They also emphasised on the need for freeing the society from gender discriminations in the greater interest of establishing a non-discriminatory and equitable society for taking the nation forward successfully.
We believe that violence against women includes domestic violence, sexual violence, psychological and emotional abuse, economic abuse, stalking and cyber crime, as well as abetment of such acts. There must be a dedicated toll-free number to lodge complaints, protection officers to inform defendants of complaints against them, protection centres, shelter homes and expedited court proceedings. Moreover, any law against gender violence must have provisions for practical hurdles, such as sanctioning alleged perpetrators of violence if they offer resistance to protection officers. It also takes into account the cultural realities that make women dependent upon their spouses in various aspects.
However, we admit that there is a much larger issue to deal with. There is a general apathy to the issue and is symptomatic of the misogyny prevalent here which is often, and disingenuously, couched in the language of religion. This social conditioning condones gender-based violence almost as a male prerogative, and for which women themselves are held responsible by virtue of their appearance or behaviour.
Another reason behind the domestic violence is that women of our society are forced to be tolerant towards this behavior of men as in mans cases it is considered to be a normal thing for a man to beat a woman and society expects from the woman to tolerate this to save her home. And the reason for women to tolerate this behaviour is also their inability to taking their own responsibility economically and socially. All the women who are going through this tormenting experience are dependent on their men and the only way to live their lives is to stay silent and bear all this. To solve the problem we have to take some basic steps to cut the roots of the problem.
Changing mindsets is always a challenge but not an insurmountable one. The media can play an important role here. It is high time that the ideal of feminine virtue ceases to be a woman who stoically endures mistreatment at the hands of men, without a murmur of complaint.
No efforts should be spared to ensure safety and sanctity of the dignified life of a daughter, sister, mother and indeed women in general.
