“International Women's Day 2016, Planet 50:50 by 2030: Step it up for Gender Equality and against Gender Based Violence”
On the 24th of March, The Daily Star and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) jointly organized a roundtable at Hotel Sea
Palace, Cox's Bazaar. The title of the roundtable was “International Women's Day 2016, Planet 50:50 by 2030: Step it up for Gender Equality and against Gender Based Violence”. Dr. Salehuddin Ahmed moderated the roundtable. A presentation introducing Gender-Based Violence (GBV) and its many was made by Rumana Parvin, Technical Officer- UNFPA and Romena Akter, Gender Advisor of UN Women and UNHCR. Participants included district health officials, district government officials, health researchers, law enforcing agencies, policy makers, development partners, UN agencies, civil society and media
In the presentation the Technical Officer- UNFPA Rumana Parvin explained various forms of GBV and also share the Ain O Shalish Kendro data where she focused that in 2015 ( Jan-June) 378 rape cases accrued, among this 63 victims age was between 7-12 years and 24 victims age was 6 years or below. As a result of rape 29 women died. Romena Akter, Gender Advisor of UN Women and UNHCR shared the aspects of gender based violence (GBV) prevalent throughout the world and specifically in Bangladesh.
According to a study (Alam, Roy and Ahmed, 2009) 43 percent of rural unmarried adolescent girls experienced sexual harassment on their way to school, college or social visits, with consequent negative impacts on the prospects of girls' education in rural areas, given that 45 percent of the girls and 73 percent of their parents considered stopping education due to such harassment. The cost of violence against women constitutes 2% of total GDP in Bangladesh (study on Cost of Violence by CARE Bangladesh, 2012).
After the presentation ended the moderator opened the floor to the participants to share their opinions and suggestions.
Khelda Begum, Team Leader at YPSA said that today girls can join such seminars and talk about their problems which were unthinkable during their school days. She suggested making short term, midterm and strategic plan to reach the goal of 50:50 by 2030.
Additional District Commissioner Anupam Saha believes that a girl child has to be brought up properly by the parents without showing any discrimination between a boy and a girl. Ferdaus Ali, Additional Police Super advised students to follow social, familial and religious values in life.
A.B.M Siddiqur Rahman, District Primary Education Officer suggested group teaching to start from primary schools to create good bonding between boys and girls. Advocate Sajjatun Nesa Lipi pointed out that discrimination begins at home when a girl child is given dolls and toy cooking sets but a boy is given toy cars and toy guns to play with. She stressed on change of mentality to achieve gender equality.
Moulavi Sirajul Islam Siddiky President of District Imam Society expressed his fear that all the good things said in the seminar may get lost. He suggested organising a similar roundtable with all the imams and madrasa teachers of Cox's Bazaar.
Rabeya Akter from Directorate of Women Affairs is of the opinion that family is primarily responsible for child marriage. Often parents take their under-age daughters to a far away village and get her married off secretly. Bimal Chandra Saha, Chief Executive at MUKTI, believes that only creating awareness will not suffice. Strict imposition of laws with exemplary punishment is needed to deter GBV.
Civil Surgeon of Cox's Bazaar said that family members should become aware first about GBV and its impacts. The issue of GBV should be given in textbooks. Abul Morshed Chowdhury, Chairman of PHALS, informed that Bangladesh Constitution and various International Conventions allow prevention of gender based violence. He stressed on a comprehensive multi-sectoral approach to address the issue.
Honorable Member of Parliament Khurshed Ara Haque was happy to see young college girls talking so boldly about their problems. She told them to fight for their own rights. She told the audience that the prime minister is very sensitive regarding women rights and prevention of gender based violence. She has given many facilities to girls to become educated and self-reliant. The MP thanked the administration for working hard to keep law and order in the town.
Recommendations:
* Parents should raise their children without showing any discrimination between a boy and a girl.
* Co-education starting from primary school to encourage uncomplicated interaction between boys and girls.
* Organising a similar roundtable with all the imams and madrasa teachers of Cox's Bazaar.
* A girl, including rape victims, should be supported and sheltered by her family.
* Online harassment and cybercrimes need to be addressed adequately.
* Stricter implementation and execution of laws against GBV is needed.
* GBV should be discussed in schools and included in textbooks.
* GBV needs to be dealt with in a comprehensive manner.
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