Women and girls must feel safe everywhere

The significance of this year's "16 Days of Activism against Gender Based Violence" initiative of the United Nations is greater than ever before in view of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. Activities under this initiative performed from November 25 to December 10 each year since 1991 have focused on prevention and elimination of violence against women and girls, which is becoming widespread day by day. The coronavirus pandemic has exacerbated this in many ways that range from physical, psychological, sexual and economic. 

Since the outbreak of the pandemic, the health crisis rapidly turned into economic and social crises. The global economy has been shattered from various fronts. Outputs have fallen, employment declined, income eroded and poverty intensified across the world. With production and supply chain disrupted, investment and exports interrupted and economic opportunities lost, countries are struggling to revive their economies.

Along with economic crisis, social problems have escalated. Evidences across countries indicate that women and girls have been affected disproportionately during this crisis. Economic insecurity coupled with social distancing have increased the likelihood of more violence against women and girls as people stay at home more than before. This has been related to the pandemic-induced household stress. Besides, as schools are closed, boys of poor families are sent for income earning activities while girls are being married off even at an early age. Parents do not want to take the burden of feeding extra mouths and girls are considired a burden to get rid on.

In Bangladesh, a telephone survey conducted by the Manusher Jonno Foundation (MJF) between January and October 2020 revealed that 1,086 women and children were raped. Among the victims, 277 were gang raped, 50 were killed and 29 committed suicide. This is an irony of the twenty-first-century, when women are increasingly involved in economic activities but are also being abused in various ways.

Women's participation in the labour force has increased over time in Bangladesh. According to the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics, women's participation rate in the labour force has increased to 36.3 percent compared to 23.9 percent in 2000. They are not only engaged in the agriculture sector and the readymade garments industry, but also in several other activities. Of the total female labour force, 59.7 percent are engaged in agriculture, 16.8 percent in industry, 15.4 percent in manufacturing and 23.5 percent in services sector.

Many women have joined non-traditional and emerging service sectors such as banking, insurance, telecommunications, hotel and restaurants, transport and real estate services. Higher education and skills have contributed to this rise. It is undeniable that women's economic empowerment has helped to improve their social status. Within their families, they are valued by their families, some of them can express their opinions on family issues. Their income has contributed towards improving nutritional status of their families, increasing education of their children, reducing child marriage, and lowering maternal and child mortality rates. 

Indeed, Bangladesh's performance in case of achieving several targets of the Millennium Development Goals has been possible to a large extent due to women's achievements and contributions. Since Bangladesh's independence non-government organisations began working in rural areas. Their intervention has helped in improving women's economic and social status. Micro credit programmes of these organisations have provided them opportunities to earn an income through small businesses. Government policies and support measures have also helped improve women's situation. Higher education among urban women has helped them to join the formal labour market and earn better.

However, the achievements made thus far in the area of women's empowerment has been overshadowed by unstoppable violence against women. They are abused in their own homes, at their relative's and friend's place, at workplaces, at educational institutes, on transports, on the street—everywhere. No place is safe for them. Even if women are accompanied by their fathers, brothers or other male relatives, there is no guarantee of their security. The sharp claws of perverted men chase them, haunt them, and finally, kill them.

What are the reasons for violence against women? This answer is not a straightforward one. Clearly, economic empowerment is not enough to stop violence against women. Violence is performed due to an imbalanced power relation between women and men. This is a bigger structural issue. There are social, cultural, phycological, economic and political reasons behind such violence.

The cultural circumstances within which we live in are all about displaying money and power, and undermining others. This also determines the social status. Money gives the license to ignore rules. The powerful ones feel that they have the right to harm the weaker ones. No one can protest if the powerful people torture the weak and vulnerable ones—both men and women. Poor men and women are in the same boat in many ways. Power relations determine the behaviour and attitude towards people in the society. That is why we read about innocent poor boys and men being tortured and beaten to death brutally in front of onlookers. Violence against women is done from similar mentality. Besides, men violate women and girls, if they want to shut them off or punish their families. Men believe if a woman is violated, the whole family is demolished forever in the eyes of the society.

Political factors play the most important role in shaping the whole power relations among people. In the absence of the rule of law in a society where perpetrators are not punished, all types of crimes will continue to increase. Rapist or murderers tend to take shelter in political parties. They find safety in political leaders after committing crimes. The law enforcing agencies cannot take any action against them unless it is instructed by the supreme authority. Even those who do not have any connections with the powerful people, also commit violence against women and men. They believe that they can get away with crimes. The culture of lawlessness encourages men to torture and violate women.

If women do not feel safe, they will be hesitant to work outside. Their families will not allow them to go out. This will be a backward move. The achievements made during the last five decades by Bangladeshi women will be lost if corrective measures are not taken. If the growth momentum of Bangladesh is to continue, women must take part in the labour market at an increasing rate. They will have to have opportunities. This will require education, appropriate training and technological knowledge. In case of education, gender parity at the primary school level has been achieved. The number of girl students has also increased at the secondary level. However, at the tertiary level, female students' participation rate is much lower than male students. This is reflected in the type of work women are engaged in. Their participation in administrative, managerial, technical and professional jobs is low. Most women work in low paying jobs. About 91 percent women work in the informal sector. Those who are entrepreneurs, lack adequate finance, training, marketing opportunities and information to scale up their business and also survive during crisis such as the coronavirus pandemic.

However, no matter what measures are taken to improve women's economic situation, violence against them must be stopped. They have to feel safe both at home and outside home.

Dr Fahmida Khatun is the Executive Director at the Centre for Policy Dialogue. Views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the position of her organisation.