Public places are unsafe for women
A recent research by ActionAid Bangladesh has confirmed what we already surmised – that most public places are not safe for women. The survey, carried out in four major cities of the country, has found that a large percentage of the women interviewed are subject to harassment in most public spaces including markets, bus stops, hospitals and police stations.
The extent of this malaise is quite shocking. According to the study, 50 percent of the women respondents have been groped in the market places, 30 percent have been harassed at police stations, and 70 percent think buses and bus stops are not safe for them. At hospitals, around 42 percent of the respondents say they faced rude behaviour from the service providers.
These numbers paint a bleak picture of our country in terms of its development as it reveals how much we have regressed when it comes to ensuring basic security and respect for women. At a time when the whole world is recognising the importance of gender equity and women's empowerment as prerequisites for a nation's progress, these statistics should shake us up into taking immediate steps. If women are constantly afraid when they go out, how can we expect more women to join the workforce, to participate in development activities or in politics?
It is obvious that despite laws and policies geared towards better security for women and gender equity, there has been little impact on the ground. As the study recommends, policies that aim to promote greater security and more empowerment for women have to be implemented. Law enforcement agencies and other public service providers (such as hospital staff) must be exposed to gender sensitivity programmes. The government and private sector must make greater investments that ensure that women have access to public services without having to face harassment of any kind. Without such basic preconditions, the country will be held back from its development potential.
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