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Editorial

Violence against women continues unabated

Raisepublic awareness on preventing all forms of abuse


Bangladeshpost
Published : 29 Dec 2022 08:32 PM

It is startling to note that compared to five years back, an average of 350 more cases are being registered under the Prevention of Violence against Women and Children Act now per month. It needs no mentioning that the incumbent government has taken a number of initiatives to prevent gender-based violence but hitherto incidents of violence against women happen almost every day in our country. Also, the pandemic has resulted in an increase in cases of violence against women. According to media report, the number of cases under the Prevention of Women and Child Repression Act 2000 has increased every year since 2018. Amid two years of widespread Covid infection, the highest number of cases was 39 per cent in 2020 and 36 per cent in 2021. 

According to a study commissioned by ActionAid Bangladesh, around 64 out of 100 women have to face online harassment and violence in the country. Reportedly, complaints of online harassment increased by 25 per cent at the end of this year compared to the beginning of the year.  Women are often lured by hoax messages and fake identities in social media and they fall prey to offenders in cyberspace as well as the real world. Reportedly, 80 percent of cybercrime victims in Bangladesh are women and this highlights the vulnerability of women in Bangladesh no matter where they go, what they do, and how they dress and speak.

Bangladesh should strive to 

become a role model in 

eradicating violence against 

women and children

Experts have pointed that  diminishing social and family values and a culture of impunity are the primary reasons behind rising trend in violence against women. Moreover, because of the social stigma associated with sexual violence, many of the incidents go unreported.

We love to take pride in the success of women, but are we doing enough to protect our female counterparts from the evils of our society? Sexual abuse has long been sidelined in Bangladesh and this must be changed. Spreading awareness about the importance of reporting incidents of abuse has become pertinent to end violence against women. We need to raise public awareness on recognising and preventing all forms of abuse. Bangladesh should strive to become a role model in eradicating violence against women and children. In this regard, we must adopt a zero-tolerance policy against violence against women. Also, the government must adopt tough legal measures to prosecute rapists and violators.

In order to end violence against women, streamlining better processes to facilitate complaints and provide counselling and medical help are imperative. Also, punishment of those who will be found involved with incidents of rape and violence against women and children must be ensured.