To combat violence against women

Mahmuda Husain
..............................................................

Laurent Hamels

In 1995 Fourth World Conference on women in Beijing was the largest gathering of government and non-government representatives ever held with 17,000 persons in attendance.

It produced path-breaking document for advancing women's equity and equality: The Beijing Platform for Action. The platform is an agenda for empowering women and furthering implementation of the 1985 Nairobi forward-looking strategies for the advancement of women.

The PFA sets time specific targets for governments to eliminate discrimination in health, education, work-place, decision making and law. Among other areas of concern identified by the PFA are 1) Poverty, 2) Education, 3) Healthcare, 4) Violence against women, 5) Women and armed conflict, 6) Women and economy, 7) Women and power and decision making, 8) Institutional mechanisms, 9) Human rights of women, 10) Women and media, 11) Women and environment, and 12) the girl child.

Violence against women is defined by the United Nations as "Any Act of gender based violence that results in suffering to women; including threats of such acts; coercion or arbitrary deprivation of liberty; whether occurring in public and private life. It encompasses but is not limited to physical, sexual and psychological violence occurring in the family, including sexual abuse of female children in the household, dowry related violence, marital rape, non-spousal violence and violence related to exploitation occurring within the general community.

Violence against women is a major human rights issue. At least one in five of the world female population has been physically or sexually abused by a man or men at some time in their life. Violence, therefore operates as a means to maintain and reinforce women's subordination.

Numerous studies report that most women who die from homicide are killed by their partners. In a society where the giving of dowry is practiced the custom can be fatal for the women whose parents are unable to meet demands for gifts or money. Violence that beginsWith threats may end in forced 'suicide', death from injuries or homicide.

Violence against women may result in unwanted pregnancy. Either through rape or by affecting a woman's ability to negotiate contraceptive use with their sexual partners for fear of being beaten or abandoned. Those who cause violence to women are mostly habitual criminals and others are influential by different ways due their social status. It is difficult to prove these elements guilty before court above any doubt, with the compliance of the codes of evidence act which is inevitable to award punishment as per our judicial system. It happens because the independent witness does not dare come forward to prove the case fearing revenge from the accused culprits and even the close relations of the victims of violence give up legal battle, fearing loss of lives, property, modesty and prestige in the wake of threat from the accused criminal or their accomplices.

Photo: Star

Violence against women is increasing alarmingly. We did not forget the name of Mahima, Fahima, Rumi, Thrishna, Sutapa and Tamanna. We did not forget the name of Yeasmin, a young girl of Dinajpur. She was raped and murdered by policemen. We feel proud to mention the success of getting the justice in Yeasmin rape and murder case.

Different development indicators show that in each and every sphere, women lag behind men. It is observed that women are unequal due to their 'dependent' socio-economic status, lower education levels, restricted mobility and, above all, through discriminating social, cultural and religious customs.

There have been many instances throughout the last decade where village leaders and religious bodies have tortured women on various 'offences' through illegal and extra judicial procedures such as 'Fatwas'. Women have become victims of rape, acid throwing, kidnapping, murder, suicide and other kinds of violence. Gender gaps still exists in every sphere of women's lives and women are deprived of their fundamental rights.

In May 2009 an honourable bench of High Court Division after the final hearing of a writ petition, issued directives to be obeyed compulsorily in case of sexual harassment of women in workplaces and in educational institutions until enactment of specific laws in this regard. The directives issued by the highest judiciary relating to violence against women have been highly appreciated by all and drawn the attraction of the quarters. But still there was no enactment in this regard. The directives could only be fulfilled through the laws enacted by the parliament. We would hope that the lawmakers would be earnest in legislating on the directives of the highest court in stopping violence against women by enacting proper laws otherwise women development would remain a far cry.

In all women development related activities the concerns contained in the CEDAW should be included on a priority basis. All discriminatory laws should be abolished or reformed.

Objections to Article 2 and 16.1.c of CEDAW convention should be withdrawn. We need to fully approve and implement CEDAW. If the envisaged changes are brought about violence against women will be reduced.
.................................................................
The author is a Human Rights activist.

© thedailystar.net, 2010. All Rights Reserved