Youths urged to help fight repression of women

Government officials and celebrities yesterday called upon the youth to come forward to prevent violence against women and child marriage.
The call came from the awarding ceremony of the Online Photo Contest 2013, a UNFPA programme to raise awareness among the youth over repression of women.
According to the Bangladesh Demographic and Health Survey, 87 percent of the country's women and girls experience gender-based violence in their lifetime, while 64 percent of girls are married off before the age of 18.
Among the 400 participants, 10 won the contest. Their photos reflect the status of women in society.
Tariq-Ul-Islam, secretary to the women and children affairs ministry, underscored the need of everyone's involvement, apart from government's measures, to stop the vices.
If everyone co-operates, violence against women and child marriage will be stopped, said actress Bidya Sinha Mim.
Everest conqueror Nishat Majumdar and supermodel Adil Hossain Nobel observed that alongside other problems, these two issues should be taken as a challenge.
The 10 winners are Plaban Gangopaddhay, Saiful Aziz Shamser, Farid Alam Khan, Huzzatul Mursalin, Abu Rasel, Turhan Al Nahian, Fariha Afroz, Sumon Yusuf, Mohammad Khaled Rayhan Shaon, and Pinu Rahman.
Argentina Piccin, representative of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), presided over the award ceremony at the capital's Ruposhi Bangla Hotel.