Must challenge toxic masculinity: Mia Seppo
Society must change the narrative of rape from blaming victims to holding perpetrators accountable for using rape as a means to exert power and dominance over women, said United Nations Resident Coordinator Mia Seppo yesterday.
“We should transform rigid social norms that are fuelling and perpetuating gender inequality, address gender biases and stereotypes, and challenge toxic masculinity,” she said.
“It is clear that we must stress awareness about the key issue of consent, that only yes means yes, and that consent must be given without manipulation or force,” Seppo added.
She was addressing a national dialogue on “Actions against Sexual Violence” at a hotel in the capital.
UN Bangladesh and the Ministry of Women and Children Affairs organised the dialogue, marking International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women.
At the programme, a 16-day national campaign against gender-based violence that will run till December 10 was announced.
Addressing as special guest, Seppo called for making most out of the campaign to make 365 days of a year safe for women and girls.
She stressed for “comprehensive sexuality education” in schools and called for strengthening and expanding partnerships to undo the “prevailing culture of impunity”.
A specific focus must be placed on legislative reforms, justice response and ensuring essential services, Seppo said. “Let us jointly push for revision of the penal code to include a clear definition of rape,” she added.
Praising the government’s national plans of action, she stressed for strengthening implementation of existing legal protection for women and girls. “Raise awareness among judiciary and police to ensure a gender-sensitive response,” she said.
“Provide accessible, confidential, safe and affordable services to survivors and ensure that perpetrators are systematically investigated, brought to justice and convicted in fair trials,” she added.
Seppo said women and girls are experts on their lived realities and have the right to participate in developing the solutions.
The role of an empowered civil society and an inclusive and diverse movement for gender equality is to act as a watchdog and to hold duty-bearers to account, she said.
At the same time, women’s rights and gender equality NGOs are key experts in developing localised prevention and response solutions, she added.
Praising the women’s rights movement in Bangladesh and the government’s efforts for gender equality, she said, “Together, we can eliminate rape, sexual and gender-based violence and make Bangladesh safe for women and girls.”
State Minister for Women and Children Affairs Fazilatunnesa Indira and Secretary Kamrun Nahar, among others, spoke at the programme.
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