RAJSHAHI: Freeing the society from gender discrimination has become an urgent need for ensuring access to justice to women in the greater interest of establishing a non-discriminatory and equitable society for taking the nation forward successfully, reports BSS.
To this end, collective efforts to end all sorts of disparity and violence against women especially girls is very important.
Emphasis should be given on women empowerment together with ensuring proper institutional education to them and prevention of early marriage, sexual harassment and other violence against them.
The issue was discussed elaborately in a view-sharing meeting titled “Justice for Women: Obstacles and What should be done” held in Rajshahi city on Monday afternoon.
Brotee Samaj Kolyan Sangstha (BSKS) under its project titled ‘Protecting the Vulnerable through Community Legal Services’ organised the meeting in association with Community Legal Services and UKaid.
Additional Deputy Commissioner (Education and ICT) Parvej Raihan, Prof Dr Biswajit Chandra Chanda from Department of Law and Land Administration and Prof Dr Tanjima Johra Habib from Department of Social Work of Rajshahi University and President of Advocate Bar Association Nazmus Sadat shared their expertise on the occasion as resource persons.
With BSKS Project Director Shashanka Boron Roy in the chair, local unit president of Bangladesh Mohila Parishad Kolpona Roy, Upazila Vice-chairman Bondona Rani Pramanik and cultural personality Munira Rahman also spoke moderated by Training and Communication Coordinator Rajendra Kumar Das.
During his concept paper presentation, Advocate Ashique Iqbal, Regional and Legal Advocacy Coordinator of BSKS, said main thrust of the project is to improve access to justice and existing legal service procedure for un-served population like poor and extreme poor adibashi concentrated areas in four upazilas of Rajshahi and Nawgaon districts.
The discussants narrated the aspects of gender sensible budget for improving living and livelihood condition of the women. They viewed that the existing gender discriminatory social mindset must be eliminated by mobilizing the entire society involving men, women, local leaders, civil society members and public representatives.
Emphasizing the need for large- scale gender equality for cherished national development they mentioned that the issues of the women empowerment together with addressing women’s vulnerability are completely dependent on the substantial gender equality.