Women rights and their security issues
Sexual violence is often used as an instrument of war, and although men and boys may also be abused in this way women and girls are the primary target
Ayshi Wadia
Womens contribution from the beginning of civilization is undeniable at every level of society. The most discussed topic of the current society is that how safe the women are or their rights in our society? Women and girls suffer disproportionately during violent conflict. Sexual violence is often used as an instrument of war, and although men and boys may also be abused in this way women and girls are the primary target. Sexual exploitation and trafficking also tend to rise during armed conflict. Refugee women and girls are especially vulnerable. Domestic violence is the common one which has increased in intensity. Domestic abuse as an incident or pattern of incidents of controlling, coercive, threatening, degrading and violent behaviour, including sexual violence, in the majority of cases by a partner or ex-partner, but also by a family member or career. In the vast majority of cases it is experienced by women and is perpetrated by men. It is estimated that 35 per cent of women worldwide have experienced either physical or sexual intimate partner violence or sexual violence by a non-partner (not including sexual harassment) at some point in their lives. However, some national studies show that up to 70 per cent of women have experienced physical and/or sexual violence from an intimate partner in their lifetime. Evidence shows that women who have experienced physical or sexual intimate partner violence report higher rates of depression, having an abortion and acquiring HIV, compared to women who have not. It is evident that of the 87,000 women who were intentionally killed in 2017 globally, more than half (50,000- 58 per cent) were killed by intimate partners or family members, meaning that 137 women across the world are killed by a member of their own family every day. More than one third (30,000) of the women intentionally killed in 2017, were killed by their current or former intimate partners. At least 144 countries have passed laws on domestic violence, and 154 have laws on sexual harassment. A joint research conducted by ActionAid Bangladesh and Jatiyo Nari Nirjaton Protirodh Forum, titled Spotlight on Violence against Women in Bangladesh: Trends and Solution, unearthed this information that chronic abuse, torture, and violence in their homes. The information identified 1773 domestic violence cases, and found that the majority of these cases are dowry-related disputes. The report highlighted that there are no laws that can provide direct protection against any form of violence other than dowry demands after marriage. It must create public awareness, especially among men, to protest against gender-based violence against women, to ensure a bright future for all. Again, Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal has said more than 17,000 rape cases have been registered in past four years in Bangladesh.
Again, women are not safe in public places as well. The total number of victims in those cases was 17,389, of which 13,861 were women and 3,528 children. A total of 673 people were convicted and sentenced in 3,430 cases disposed of by the courts with 17 death penalties, 80 life imprisonments and 576 in different prison terms. In Dhaka, people daily suffer the difficulty of reaching their destination. Likewise women struggle in local services like all commuters, suffering crowds and hardships. Women are continuing their journey being embarrassed, to save time and money. Its a shame that due to lack of adequate transport women are often being abused in buses.
Daily news reports many occurrences related to the oppression of women on buses, road sides, etc. We also see various kinds of videos in social media in which women are harassed regularly. Recently, a 19 years old girl named Nusrat Jahan Rafi had been burned to death after being sexually harassed by the head of the institution she was studying in Feni. The attackers asked her to withdraw the sexual harassment complaint she had filed with police. On her refusal, she was brutally killed. The heinous incident sparked outrage in Bangladesh, with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina vowing that none of the culprits will be spared legal action. An arrest warrant had been issued on 27 May against the offenders of this case.
According to a statement given by Nusrat, a fellow female student took her to the roof of the school, saying one of her friends was being beaten up. When Nusrat reached the rooftop four or five people, wearing burqas, surrounded her and allegedly pressed her to withdraw the case against the principal of the madrassah. When she refused, they set her on fire. News of Nusrats death dominated Bangladeshi media. Police have since arrested 15 people, seven of them allegedly involved in the murder. Among those arrested are the two male students who organised the protest in support of the principal. The principal himself remains in custody. Nusrats family members met Prime Minister in Dhaka and the PM promised that every person involved in the killing would be brought to justice. Many girls dont protest out of fear after such incidents. If women do not protest, these kind of barbarity will continue to happen. The attitude of men towards womenfolk should change.
Punishment for rape under the Nari O Shishu Nirjatan Daman Bishesh Ain 2003): According to Section 9 of this Act, whoever commits rape with a woman or a child shall be punished with rigorous imprisonment for life and with fine. If in consequence of rape or any act by a man after rape, the woman or the child so raped, died later, the man shall be punished with death or with transportation for life and also with fine not exceeding one lac taka.
If more than one man rape a woman or a child and that woman or child dies or is injured in consequences of that rape, each of the gang shall be punished with death or rigorous imprisonment for life and also with fine not exceeding one lac taka. Whoever attempts on a woman or a child to cause death or hurt after rape, he shall be punished with rigorous imprisonment for life and also with fine. To commit rape, he shall be punished with imprisonment for either description, which may extend to ten years but not less than five years rigorous imprisonment and also with fine. If a woman is raped in the police custody, each and every person, under whose custody the rape was committed and they all were directly responsible for safety of that woman, shall be punished for failure to provide safety, unless otherwise proved, with imprisonment for either description which may extend to ten years but not less than five years of rigorous imprisonment and also with fine.
Explanation: Whoever has sexual intercourse without lawful marriage with a woman not being under fourteen years of age, against her will or with her consent obtained, by putting her in fear or by fraud, or with a Womens rights refer to freedom and entitlements of women and girls of all ages. These rights may or may not be institutionalised, ignored by law, local custom, and behaviour in a particular society. These liberties are grouped together and differentiated from broader notions of human rights because they often differ from the freedoms inherently possessed by or recognized for men and boys, and because activists for this issue claim an inherent historical and traditional bias against the exercise of rights by women and girls.
At present the government is starting to put rules in order to protect and grant women more rights. As of today there are three laws that are set in place for women, Anti-Dowry Prohibition Act of 1980, Cruelty of Women Law of 1983 and the Women and Children Repression Act of 2000. These laws have helped women out. The Bangladesh Constitution declares equal rights for men and women in all spheres of public life. Women are the precious resource of our nation. Therefore, protection of their rights and ensuring their security are the biggest demands of time.
The writer is a contributor to
The Independent
