Raise awareness through religious establishments

Rights organisation Manusher Jonno Foundation (MJF) has urged the religious affairs ministry to raise awareness on violence against women and children through different religious institutions during the coronavirus pandemic.

It also expressed interest in taking part in the campaign with the help of the ministry.

"We have seen that people are keen to accept messages that are interpreted from a religious standpoint. People value information circulated from religious institutions," reads a press release of MJF, issued yesterday.

The ministry works with all kinds of religious institutions, the statement said, adding that MJF thinks the ministry can spread these messages or slogans through mosques, temples, churches and monasteries.

A telesurvey report by MJF shows that a total of 13,494 women and children experienced domestic and other violence during the countrywide shutdown in 53 districts of the country last month.

An alarming 4,160 of the victims admitted that they were abused for the first time in their life.

MJF observed that the number of incidents of violence against women and children increased in May by 31 percent compared to April.

MJF also is preparing some slogans and messages and sending those to the ministry so that they can circulate it through the Islamic Foundation, the statement said.