The 16 days of activism against gender-based violence against women and girls commences on 25 November worldwide. Every year, from 25 November till 10 December, this campaign has been observed through undertaking different activities. Like every other year, this campaign is being observed in Bangladesh under the global theme of \u2018Orange the world: End violence against women now!\u2019<\/p>\n
With the goal of eliminating violence against women, 25 November, the \u2018International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women\u2019 marks the beginning of the 16-days of activism. However, analysing the situation of women\u2019s rights in Bangladesh on the eve of this day shows that women are still being subjected to various forms of discrimination, oppression and physical, mental and economic violence at the family, society and national level. According to the statistics of ASK, in the last 10 months of 2021, 197 women were killed by their husbands as a result of domestic violence, of which 128 women committed suicide. In addition, men raped 1178 women, of which 220 were victims of gang rape, murdered 43 women and girls after rape, attempted to rape 276 women and girls and 8 committed suicide. In the past few months, 116 women have been sexually harassed, including 8 who were killed when they protested against the harassment, 101 women have been physically abused due to dowry, 63 people have been tortured and killed and 20 people have been victims of acid attack. In contrast to such incidence of violence, we see that trial has been concluded and justice has been served in a very few numbers of cases.<\/p>\n
The root cause of such violence against women is inequality and patriarchal mentality. Despite the development in various aspects of the country, this mentality still remains at a dreadful level in the society of Bangladesh. Besides, the existing criminal justice system is still neither women friendly, nor accessible to women. As these structures are not sensitive towards women\u2019s rights, they are discouraged and barred from seeking legal recourse.<\/p>\n
To this end, ASK makes the following demands to prevent violence against women and ensure justice for them:<\/p>\n
1.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 To make the government services related to violence accessible to all; to increase the capacity of these facilities, and in each area, maintain an effective police support system; to promote these provision and delivery of these services properly. The services that are available in Bangladesh, such as Victim Support Centers and One Stop Crisis Centers quite inadequate compared to the necessity;<\/p>\n
2.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 To repeal Sections 155 (4) and 148 (3) of the Evidence Act, 1872 as these two provisions are in violation of human rights and causes the complainant to become the victim of harassment again;<\/p>\n
3.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 To enact the ‘Victim and Witness Protection Act’;<\/p>\n
4.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 To conclude the trial procedures of cases of violence within the time prescribed by law;<\/p>\n
5.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 To enact the draft law \u2018Crime Victim Compensation Act\u2019 proposed by the Law Commission;<\/p>\n
6.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 To raise awareness amongst the general public regarding women\u2019s right. Additionally, to incorporate gender sensitive contents in the syllabus of textbook, such as equality, non-discrimination, and respect towards diversity;<\/p>\n
7.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 To take necessary steps to make all the persons involved in legal and judicial service gender sensitive;<\/p>\n
8.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 To amend inheritance laws to ensure equal rights of women in property. Moreover, to insert the provision of equal rights of husband and wife in both movable and immovable property;<\/p>\n
9.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 To follow the 18 Directives issued by the High Court Division in the prosecution of rape cases and to take measures in case of any deviation;<\/p>\n
10.\u00a0 To widely promote the directives and guidelines of the High Court Division and to inform the concerned persons and make them more conscious;<\/p>\n
11.\u00a0 To take essential steps for ensuring free movement and freedom of speech (both online and offline) of women.<\/p>\n
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Can\u2019t see? Please click here to open PDF file<\/a>.<\/p>\n