Call to curb gender-based violence against women, children

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RAJSHAHI, Oct 17, 2020 (BSS) – Highlighting the importance of freeing the women and children from all sorts of violence and repression speakers at a participatory discussion here today unequivocally called for a concerted effort of all government and non-government entities concerned to curb the violence.

They also observed that the role of mass-media is very important towards preventing the gender-based violence against women and children.

On behalf of their project styled ‘Engage Men and Boys Network’, Brac and Association for Community Development (ACD) jointly hosted the meeting with the main thrust of sensitizing the media personnel so that they can contribute to the field of fighting gender-based violence.

Held at the office conference hall of ACD and with its Executive Director Salima Sarwar in the chair, the media mobilization meeting was addressed by Brac Project Coordinator Firojul Islam, District Coordinator Mohsin Ali and Divisional Manager (Gender and Justice) Raihanul Islam as focal persons.

ACD Project Coordinator Mostafa Kamal gave an illustration of the project along with its aims, objectives and implementation strategy during his multimedia presentation. He also called for ensuring a gender-balanced and equity-based society through halting all sorts of repression and violence against women and children.

The speakers viewed that building social awareness among the community people, especially parents and teachers, has become an urgent need for prevention of gender-based violence and substantial and sustainable reduction of violence against women and children.

The government alone or any single organisation is not capable of freeing the womenfolk from violence and repression, so community participation is very important in this regard.

Salima Sarwar said overall national development could be possible through ensuring education and all other fundamental rights of the children coming from the poor and underprivileged families.

Physical and mental development of children could also be possible through protecting them from violence and deprivation, she added.

Firojul Islam mentioned that the media both print and electronics has already established a number of instances towards supplementing efforts of law enforcers to bringing many persons who were involved in repression, violence and cruelty against women and children to book through objective reporting.

In line with this, the media also play a pivotal role towards culminating in gender-based violence through their gender-sensible professional works, he added.