Patriarchal mindset, culture of impunity must go

Patriarchal perception of men and women and the culture of impunity which protects perpetrators of sexual harassment must change to prevent the crime against women and make public spaces safer for them, said discussants at a programme yesterday.

“All of us are not alert about sexual harassment and often do not speak up against it, fearing for our own security and honour,” said Annisul Huq, newly elected mayor of Dhaka North City Corporation, adding that this attitude needs to change.

ActionAid Bangladesh organised the programme at Chhayanaut Bhaban in the capital's Dhanmondi celebrating the global launch of “International Safe Cities for Women Day 2015”.

The day was celebrated in 20 countries to ensure safety for women and raise awareness about the existence of sexual violence against women in urban public spaces.

ActionAid Bangladesh Country Director Farah Kabir said a Department for International Development-funded three-year multi-country project was initiated to address these issues and under which a baseline survey on Safe City for Women was conducted from June to September, 2014.

According to the survey, in which 800 women, 200 men and 200 boys from different income groups took part from Dhaka, Chittagong, Barisal, Rajshahi, Khulna, Sylhet and Narayanganj, 88 percent of women said they faced sexual harassment from passers-by, male passengers in public transports and customers at shops.

Eighty-one percent of the respondents said they would not approach police for help while 65 percent opined that police would blame women rather than take action against perpetrators.

Annisul was presented a memorandum where amenities and services for women including public toilets, proper lighting of roads and gender-sensitive policing were demanded.

Prof Mahmuda Islam and Prof Tania Haque of Dhaka University (DU) talked about the lack of transparency of the DU's sexual harassment complaint committee and how political influence affected steps taken against perpetrators.

Mansur Ahmed Chowdhury, jury board member of ActionAid Bangladesh's Nasreen Smriti Padak, spoke on the culture of impunity.

Admitting the high prevalence of political influence, Annisul said, “Attitude of political parties needs to change. If they create pressure on police to take action, we can reach a solution.”  

At the programme's end, four women were awarded Nasreen Smriti Padak in memory of ActionAid Bangladesh's former country director and women's rights activist Nasreen Parvin Huq.

Dinomoni Tigya from Naogaon was awarded for creating change among young women, Rokhsana Khatun from Sirajganj for doing untraditional jobs, Shanti Malo from Joypurhat for resisting violence, and freedom fighter and sculptor Ferdousi Priyabhasini for her contribution in the Liberation War and arts. Dinomoni, Rokhsana and Shanti were chosen from 17 nominees from 28 districts.