DHAKA, Nov 25, 2019 (BSS)- To minimize the shocks of exposing women to violence and overcome barriers to stand on their own feet, Bangladesh is not far from adopting necessary laws and policies to get women mainstreamed.
This was stated by State Minister for Women and Children Affairs (MoWCA) Fazilatunnesa Indira while addressing as the chief guest a national dialogue jointly arranged by the Ministry of Women and Children Affairs and the United Nations in Bangladesh in a hotel today, said a press release.
She urged all to stand against any violence targeting women and children.
This year the theme is – “Orange the World: Generation Equality Stands against Rape”.
Indira said to promote gender equality, Bangladesh has taken up beneficial policies for the betterment of womenfolk, which constitutes half of the country’s population.
Bangladesh has adopted policies meant to promote gender equality and address violence against women and girls, such as the Women’s Development Policy, followed by the National Action Plan in 2011, the 2009 High Court’s Directive on sexual harassment, the Women and Child Repression Suppression Act and Domestic Violence Act, she added.
Indira added the National Action Plan on violence against women and children (2018-2030) was revised and launched in November 2018. But women and children are still the victims of different forms of violence, she added.
Secretary of the MoWCA Kamrun Nahar, chaired the discussion, while Coordinator of UN Resident Mia Seppo addressed the program as the special guest.
Mia Seppo said, UN’s unwavering commitment to eradicate rape and sexual and gender-based violence is manifested in its support of the 16 Days civil society initiative.
She added, “We must change the narrative of rape, from blaming victims to holding the perpetrators accountable for using rape as a means to exert power and dominance over women. We must raise awareness about the key issue of consent, that only ‘yes means yes’, and that consent must be given freely without manipulation or coercion.”
16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence is a global campaign to challenge violence against women and girls. The campaign runs every year from 25 November, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, to 10 December, Human Rights Day.
Barrister Shameem Haider Patwary, MP,
Dr Abul Hossain, Project Director MoWCA, Taslima Yasmin, Associate Professor, University of Dhaka, Farah Kabir, Executive Director, Action Aid Bangladesh, Sheikh Rafiqul Islam, Additional Secretary MoWCA, Shoko Ishikawa, Country Representative, UN Women, Sayed Saikh Imtiaz, Associate Professor, University of Dhaka, Jayasri Shamaddar, Judge, Sm Nahida Nazmin, Additional District Judge, Farida Yeasmin, Deputy Police Commissioner, Sheepa Hafiza, Executive Director, Ain o Salish Kendra, Asa Torkelsson, Country Representative, UNFPA and Ramendu Majumdar, Media personality also present at the meeting.