End Violence Against Women And Girls

Gender-based violence in Bangladesh is a great social concern nowadays. Despite advancement in technology and industry, and improvement of the national economy and other social indicators, violence against women and children continues to be an issue that must be tackled immediately through concerted efforts. Marie Stopes Bangladesh (MSB), a non-government organisation, has been working with the Victim Support Centre of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) at Tejgaon police station since 2009.

About its activities, M Daulatuzzaman, general manager (external relations) of MSB, said: “We provide support to the victims at the centre. One of our female clinical service providers is present there five days a week, from 9 am to 3 pm. The services we provide include taking clinical history, medical examination, counselling, writing prescriptions and making referrals, if necessary. Our main job is to support the victims, and help police to run the centre, by providing immediate medical needs. Besides, we work to reduce gender-based violence through projects to raise awareness within the community and provide counselling, treatment and referral services to the victims of violence. The main targeted beneficiaries of MSB are women and girls. Through various projects, we are providing women and girls in many communities with access to much needed services. They are provided with reproductive health services, as well as information through a network of clinics and outreach components.”

Ain o Salish Kendra (ASK), a legal aid and human rights organisation, is also providing support to the Victim Support Centre. About the present state of violence against women and children, Nina Goswami, an advocate and senior deputy director of ASK, said: “From my practical experience as a lawyer, I have seen many changes in our social setting. Once, our teachers used to take care of their students. But now they are seen busy with their coaching centres. Even some teachers are engaging in abusing their charges. Due to some recent incidents, parents are not feeling safe sending their children to school.”

“Also, we had extended families before. But now nuclear families are increasing and so, children are more vulnerable. On the other hand, relations between neighbours are declining. For such reasons, perpetrators are getting scope to commit violence. We had a case recently where we found a rape victim who was violated when her parents were out working. Besides, the implementation of laws is not seen widely. Thus, new types of violence are increasing. A speedy, punitive initiative is urgently required to mitigate the social problem of violence,” she said.

“At the beginning, the Victim Support Centre was doing a good job. But they only have the capacity to provide shelter to a victim for four days. It is really impossible to rehabilitate any victim within those days,” Goswami added.

According to data compiled by Bangladesh Shishu Adhikar Forum (BSAF), from January 2012 to September 2017, a total of 1,885 children were assaulted or raped. Of them, 248 children were gang raped, 233 were victims of attempted rape, 115 were killed after rape and 38 committed suicide. However, verdicts were delivered in only 31 child murder cases and 26 child rape cases.

Referring to their latest report, State of Child Rights in Bangladesh 2016, which is based on secondary data sources, Azmi Akter, programme officer and researcher at BSAF, said: “In 2016, sexual abuse and exploitation of children was 6 percent lower than the previous year. A total of 686 children were subjected to different kinds of sexual abuse and exploitation in 2016, whereas 727 children faced such cruelty in 2015. Overall child rape decreased by 14.40 percent, which is a positive sign. For the most part, incidents of child sexual abuse increased tremendously in 2015, as the total number of child victims in 2014 was 224. Like other incidents, child kidnapping or abduction decreased by almost 25 percent in 2016. It is mentionable that 71 percent of kidnapped children were rescued by law-enforcing agencies. Besides, child murder after kidnapping decreased by 57.5 percent and children found dead after going missing decreased almost 30 percent in 2016.”

“The trend of newborn baby theft also decreased slightly (14.29 percent) in 2016. However, corporal punishment in schools continued unabated, with a 25 percent rise in 2016. In addition, the number of underprivileged children being tortured or beaten brutally for silly reasons or on suspicion of theft rose by 17.78 percent in 2016,” Akter added.

The report was compiled by child rights advocates from newspaper reports. There are a number of recommendations in the report to improve overall child rights situation in Bangladesh. The suggestions include speedy trial in child murder cases, death penalty for rapists, strict punishment for child rights violators, full implementation of Children Act-2013, increasing budget allocation for children and its proper utilisation, strict monitoring of the prohibition of corporal punishment in educational institutions, strict controlling of child pornography, child trafficking and child marriage, and improving birth registration in the country.

In an email response, UN Women Bangladesh, the United Nations agency for gender equality, said: “UN Women emphasises on implementation of existing policies and guidelines to prevent violence against women and girls (VAWG). With support from UN Women, models to prevent VAW on university campus were developed. All participating institutions established new mechanisms to prevent VAW on campus.”

On the four campuses where the agency worked, including Jahangirnagar University, University of Rajshahi, Shahjalal University of Science and Technology and East West University, substantial awareness was created on the High Court directive (2009) to prevent sexual harassment. And there was significant increase in student engagement to prevent sexual harassment on campus, it added. The agency further plans to work at tertiary level education institutions through the University Grants Commission.

 “Eighty schools supported by UN Women in four different locations of the country have undertaken measures to school premises safer for girl students. The agency provided support to promote the concept of gender equality for prevention of sexual harassment. It also advocated on the revision of textbooks with information on rights, gender equality, prevention of violence, reproductive health, diversity and inclusion,” the email added.

UN Women also supported community based performances of the play ‘Seven’, which resulted in zero acceptance of VAW among the audiences. Partnerships were established between communities, local law enforcement agencies, and local governments to improve infrastructure and utilise available public funds for improving women’s safety, the agency said.  

“UN Women is working with formal and informal work sectors to make workplaces safer for women. Particular emphasise is given on the RMG (readymade garments) sector. Through using safety audit tools, safety issues were identified in selected factories and also mitigation measures were suggested by the women workers. The agency is also working on implementing CEDAW (Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women), particularly to make the judicial sector more gender responsive. Based on the government’s international normative obligations, specific plans are made to meet implementation needs,” the email added.

 About future initiatives, the agency said: “UN Women will work more on public space violence, including the transport sector. Emphasise will be given to work with formal work sectors to develop models of safer work places. At the community level, it will work to promote equitable family relationship through sharing unpaid household work. It will also work with young people to build respectful relationship among young women and men. It will also stress on developing good practices to share evidence on successful models to prevent violence against women and girls.”  n

Photos: Internet.

End Violence Against Women And Girls

Gender-based violence in Bangladesh is a great social concern nowadays. Despite advancement in technology and industry, and improvement of the national economy and other social indicators, violence against women and children continues to be an issue that must be tackled immediately through concerted efforts. Marie Stopes Bangladesh (MSB), a non-government organisation, has been working with the Victim Support Centre of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) at Tejgaon police station since 2009. About its activities, M Daulatuzzaman, general manager (external relations) of MSB, said: We provide support to the victims at the centre. One of our female clinical service providers is present there five days a week, from 9 am to 3 pm. The services we provide include taking clinical history, medical examination, counselling, writing prescriptions and making referrals, if necessary. Our main job is to support the victims, and help police to run the centre, by providing immediate medical needs. Besides, we work to reduce gender-based violence through projects to raise awareness within the community and provide counselling, treatment and referral services to the victims of violence. The main targeted beneficiaries of MSB are women and girls. Through various projects, we are providing women and girls in many communities with access to much needed services. They are provided with reproductive health services, as well as information through a network of clinics and outreach components. Ain o Salish Kendra (ASK), a legal aid and human rights organisation, is also providing support to the Victim Support Centre. About the present state of violence against women and children, Nina Goswami, an advocate and senior deputy director of ASK, said: From my practical experience as a lawyer, I have seen many changes in our social setting. Once, our teachers used to take care of their students. But now they are seen busy with their coaching centres. Even some teachers are engaging in abusing their charges. Due to some recent incidents, parents are not feeling safe sending their children to school. Also, we had extended families before. But now nuclear families are increasing and so, children are more vulnerable. On the other hand, relations between neighbours are declining. For such reasons, perpetrators are getting scope to commit violence. We had a case recently where we found a rape victim who was violated when her parents were out working. Besides, the implementation of laws is not seen widely. Thus, new types of violence are increasing. A speedy, punitive initiative is urgently required to mitigate the social problem of violence, she said. At the beginning, the Victim Support Centre was doing a good job. But they only have the capacity to provide shelter to a victim for four days. It is really impossible to rehabilitate any victim within those days, Goswami added. According to data compiled by Bangladesh Shishu Adhikar Forum (BSAF), from January 2012 to September 2017, a total of 1,885 children were assaulted or raped. Of them, 248 children were gang raped, 233 were victims of attempted rape, 115 were killed after rape and 38 committed suicide. However, verdicts were delivered in only 31 child murder cases and 26 child rape cases. Referring to their latest report, State of Child Rights in Bangladesh 2016, which is based on secondary data sources, Azmi Akter, programme officer and researcher at BSAF, said: In 2016, sexual abuse and exploitation of children was 6 percent lower than the previous year. A total of 686 children were subjected to different kinds of sexual abuse and exploitation in 2016, whereas 727 children faced such cruelty in 2015. Overall child rape decreased by 14.40 percent, which is a positive sign. For the most part, incidents of child sexual abuse increased tremendously in 2015, as the total number of child victims in 2014 was 224. Like other incidents, child kidnapping or abduction decreased by almost 25 percent in 2016. It is mentionable that 71 percent of kidnapped children were rescued by law-enforcing agencies. Besides, child murder after kidnapping decreased by 57.5 percent and children found dead after going missing decreased almost 30 percent in 2016. The trend of newborn baby theft also decreased slightly (14.29 percent) in 2016. However, corporal punishment in schools continued unabated, with a 25 percent rise in 2016. In addition, the number of underprivileged children being tortured or beaten brutally for silly reasons or on suspicion of theft rose by 17.78 percent in 2016, Akter added. The report was compiled by child rights advocates from newspaper reports. There are a number of recommendations in the report to improve overall child rights situation in Bangladesh. The suggestions include speedy trial in child murder cases, death penalty for rapists, strict punishment for child rights violators, full implementation of Children Act-2013, increasing budget allocation for children and its proper utilisation, strict monitoring of the prohibition of corporal punishment in educational institutions, strict controlling of child pornography, child trafficking and child marriage, and improving birth registration in the country. In an email response, UN Women Bangladesh, the United Nations agency for gender equality, said: UN Women emphasises on implementation of existing policies and guidelines to prevent violence against women and girls (VAWG). With support from UN Women, models to prevent VAW on university campus were developed. All participating institutions established new mechanisms to prevent VAW on campus. On the four campuses where the agency worked, including Jahangirnagar University, University of Rajshahi, Shahjalal University of Science and Technology and East West University, substantial awareness was created on the High Court directive (2009) to prevent sexual harassment. And there was significant increase in student engagement to prevent sexual harassment on campus, it added. The agency further plans to work at tertiary level education institutions through the University Grants Commission. Eighty schools supported by UN Women in four different locations of the country have undertaken measures to school premises safer for girl students. The agency provided support to promote the concept of gender equality for prevention of sexual harassment. It also advocated on the revision of textbooks with information on rights, gender equality, prevention of violence, reproductive health, diversity and inclusion, the email added. UN Women also supported community based performances of the play Seven, which resulted in zero acceptance of VAW among the audiences. Partnerships were established between communities, local law enforcement agencies, and local governments to improve infrastructure and utilise available public funds for improving womens safety, the agency said. UN Women is working with formal and informal work sectors to make workplaces safer for women. Particular emphasise is given on the RMG (readymade garments) sector. Through using safety audit tools, safety issues were identified in selected factories and also mitigation measures were suggested by the women workers. The agency is also working on implementing CEDAW (Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women), particularly to make the judicial sector more gender responsive. Based on the governments international normative obligations, specific plans are made to meet implementation needs, the email added. About future initiatives, the agency said: UN Women will work more on public space violence, including the transport sector. Emphasise will be given to work with formal work sectors to develop models of safer work places. At the community level, it will work to promote equitable family relationship through sharing unpaid household work. It will also work with young people to build respectful relationship among young women and men. It will also stress on developing good practices to share evidence on successful models to prevent violence against women and girls. n Photos: Internet.