Int'l confce on crimes against women begins today

A four-day international Conference on 'organising resistance against sexual exploitation regionally and globally' begins in the city today to explore and develop strategies to combat prostitution and all forms of sexual exploitation, reports BSS.

Addressing a press conference on the eve of the conference, convenor of the Coalition Against Trafficking in Women (CATW)-Bangladesh, Sigma Huda said the conference aims at raising public and official awareness about the magnitude of crimes against women and to mobilise support and action.

CATW is an international network, fighting sexual exploitation and abuse of women and children worldwide.

Sigma Huda said 120 participants from abroad and 180 from Bangladesh including women activists, NGOs, legal experts, parliament members government representatives and diplomats, are expected to participate in the conference.

Sexual exploitation in various forms is increasing rapidly all over the world, including in Bangladesh and South Asia, and Trafficking in women and girls, prostitution, pornography and child abuse in new and pernicious forms are cruel and widespread realities, she said.

Modern communication technology, such as the Internet, is being misused to promote multiple forms of sexual exploitation, she added.

She expressed the hope that through this conference a consensus would be established among the CATW members and other participating groups on the issue of prostitution, trafficking, sexual exploitation of women and children, and separate and common strategies evolved to confront the issues.

Sigma Huda said the conference would seek to advance the CATW agenda at all levels to strengthen organisational apparatus to resist, stop and combat prostitution and sexual exploitation.

She said the conference will formulate a plan of action including regional and international network, advocacy, education, research, direct services, and human righs documentation to combat all forms of sexual exploitation.

It will also try to establish a mechanism to follow up effects and impacts of the activities carried out by the coalition to resist sexual exploitation at national, regional and global level, she added.

Appreciating the government's cooperation, Sigma Huda said, "We have received a message from Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina expressing solidarity and hoping for success of the conference."

She also said Leader of the Opposition in Parliament Khaleda Zia is likely to be the chief guest at the concluding session of the conference.

The press conference was addressed, among others, by president of CATW-International and convenor of Asia Pacific Dr Arora Habate Dious and co-executive director of CATW-International Dr Zenis Remond.