Fear of violence restricts females' mobility

Fear of violence and sexual harassment restrict mobility of females, said noted women's rights leaders at a discussion yesterday.

"There is hardly a woman who has not suffered harassment or sexual abuse," said Khushi Kabir, coordinator of Nijera Kori, adding that she, herself, is a victim.

Young people's mindset needs to be changed to ensure security of women, said Salma Khan, women's rights activist and former chairperson of UN Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women.

Dhaka North Mayor Annisul Huq said he becomes worried when his daughter is out at night.   

ActionAid Bangladesh organised the discussion at Banani Club in the capital. The programme comes in the midst of a 16-day campaign against gender violence.

The campaign, which started on Wednesday, will end on December 10, also Human Rights Day. 

Prof Shahnaz Huda of Dhaka University said behind almost every incident of sexual violence there is a political patron.

"Perpetrators of sexual violence get impunity if they have connections to the ruling party or belong to law enforcing agencies," she added.

An ActionAid survey conducted at public places like bus stops, railway stations, shopping malls, parks and educational institutions revealed that obscene comments and sexual gesture, inadequate street lights and law enforcers' negligence are causes and means of harassment.

ActionAid Bangladesh is carrying out an awareness movement "Safe city for women --stop sexual harassment at public places" during the 16-day campaign.

Annisul Huq said by April a total of 1,000 closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras would be installed to ensure security in malls, on roads and in public gathering points in different areas, including Gulshan, Banani and Baridhara. He added that 100 such cameras are already installed.