‘Gender equality begins at home’

Stressing the need for educating children on gender equality at home, CRI Trustee and Co-chairperson Saima Wazed Hossain said she wants everyone in the country to be taught women and men are no different.

Children's gender education must start from home, she said, urging everyone to raise their voice in unison against violence against women everywhere -- in schools, colleges, workplaces, streets, or elsewhere.

Saima Wazed, also a thematic ambassador at Climate Vulnerable Forum (CVF), was speaking at a webinar to launch a campaign titled "Women's Safety in Public Places (WSPP)" on Wednesday night.

The campaign was launched by Young Bangla -- a youth wing of ruling Awami League -- and research organisation Centre for Research and Information (CRI) in collaboration with UNDP and the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC).

Earlier in March, Young Bangla and Human Rights Programme of UNDP signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to promote the "Women's Safety in Public Places" campaign.

To this end, the youth organisation has already set some stepping stones towards women's safety and empowerment, and the latest campaign is set to be one of those.

With a strict stance against stereotyping of women in society, Saima said, "If my voice is discouraged at home, if I'm hushed up, if I'm reminded every now and then - 'Stay calm, cool, and don't protest', that wouldn't be something befitting of the history of Bangalees. You see, women were at the forefront of the movements launched by Bangalees. When our history inspires us, we must protest before anyone else does. Why should we keep silent?"

Referring to a documentary played during the webinar depicting how women fall prey to sexual harassment, she said any form of violence against women -- not just rape -- must be properly addressed.

As part of the event, UNDP Country Director Sudipto Mukherjee, State Minister for Women and Children Affairs Fazilatun Nessa Indira, State Minister for Information and Communication Technology Zunaid Ahmed Palak, Chief Coordinator for Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Zuena Aziz, and Inspector General of Police (IGP) Benazir Ahmed joined a panel discussion.