Crimes against women on rise as laws lie idle

Although the country now has several stringent laws to protect their rights, yet the number of crimes against women continues to rise due to lack of implementation of these laws.
Women rights organisations held this alarming rise in crime rate accountable to dowry, stalking, sexual harassment, rape, acid attack, etc.
Their concerns are reflected from the fact that the deaths of 1,450 women in 2011 as against 1,377 in 2010 and 1,373 in the previous year resulted from reasons of dowry, rape and others, according to Bangladesh Mahila Parishad reports.
However, Dr Shirin Sharmin Chowdhury, state minister for women and children affairs, denied that crimes against women are increasing.
She admitted that some new crimes are increasing like sexual harassment using technology like mobile phone, internet etc.
She said the government's position is on zero tolerance when dealing with violence against women and the criminals in such incidents will not be spared.
“We are always vocal against the repression on women and that is why the incumbent government made some effective laws including Domestic Violence [Protection & Prevention] Law, 2010. Besides, the government recently approved the draft of 'Pornography Control Act, 2011' due to rise of production, preservation, carrying and marketing, export and import of pornographies” the minister said.
“Our ministry will work with all other concerned organisations in a combined process to prevent violence against women,” she said.
Advocate Sultana Kamal, executive director of Ain O Salish Kendra, said “The government made laws but the application of these laws is not strongly visible in the society and, as a result, the people can not realise punishment for the criminal activities.”
This is the reason violence against women is not decreasing, she said adding that, women need to be more conscious about the laws for their own protection.
Ayesha Khanom, president of Bangladesh Mohila Parisahd, also agreed that violence against women is increasing.
She blamed the law enforcement agencies and the judiciary for not being responsible to protect women's rights.
Besides, the outlook of men towards women is yet to change and they are yet to accept women as their equal partner and show respect towards the females, she said.
Monjusree Saha, Head of Women's Rights of RDRS, Bangladesh said the country has to lose at least Tk 14,000 crore to incidents of domestic violence against women in the country every year.
Some existing laws are needed to amend and above all the government has to implement these laws properly in the society for ensuring the women's protection, she added.