Stand against sexual harassment, stalking

Women rights leaders yesterday called all to stand against sexual harassment and stalking as an alarming 4186 incidents of violence on women took place between January and September this year.
Among them 458 women were raped, 82 of them were gang raped and 52 women were killed by the rapists, said leaders of Bangladesh Mahila Parishad (BMP) at a press conference at the National Press Club.
They said these while talking on the drafted “Sexual Harassment and Prevention Act, 2010 (draft)” at the press conference organised to observe the 'International Women Repression Prevention Fortnight and International Human Rights Day'.
BMP drafted the law to stop sexual harassment at all levels clearly defining stalking, sexual harassment and repression and related punishments.
Moreover, 22 women committed suicides out of 434 who were stalked during that period, said the leaders of BMP expressing their deep concern.
They demanded formulation of separate laws with punitive and correctional provisions for the perpetrators of sexual harassment and stalking.
Ayesha Khanam, president of BMP, advocate Masuda Rehana Begum, advocate Maksuda Akhter Laily and Shahana Kali, among others, spoke at the press conference.