Md. Mustafizur Rahman :
Sexual harassment is a common phenomenon in recent world. Bangladesh is not excluded from this. We view reports everyday of sexual harassment and sexual abuse in the electronic and print media. The High Court has recommended forming a committee for the use of “Anti-rape security alarms” for women and children. It is recommended to set up a “separate commission” against rape. Parliament is constantly heating up to demand the death penalty for rapists. Calling it a social disaster wouldn’t be wrong. SDG 5.2 explicitly states that “All forms of violence against women and girls, including sexual harassment, should be abolished”.
Dr. Mary Rowe, president and chancellor of the American Research University (MIT), first brought up the topic of sexual harassment in 1973. On 19 June 2015, the UN General Assembly (A/RES/69/293) proclaimed 19 June of each year the International Day for the Elimination of Sexual Violence must be observed globally.
In 2012, the Indian government faced public outrage over rape on a moving bus. As a result, the Indian government passed (POSH Act) in 2013. Harvey Weinstein, Hollywood’s famous director who was accused of sexual harassment, that movement was swept up worldwide. From this perception the (#Me Too) movement started from 2017 which is still ongoing. A movement called (A Rapist in Your Path) has been launched in Chile against rape that is spread over more than 200 cities in the world. Many youth of Bangladesh, have joined the movement. The ILO seminar held in Manila on July 1993 and the 4th world Women’s Conference held in Beijing on July, 1995 called for prevent sexual harassment in the workplace. Similarly, France played an important role when France was the president of G-7 and the chair of the EU Council of Ministers in 2019. France, along with international partners including Europe, is promoting a campaign called the (Istanbul Convention). According to a study conducted by the (Fawcett Society, UK), Bogota, the capital of Colombia, and Lima, the capital of Chile, are the most dangerous cities for the sexual harassment and Stockholm, the capital of Sweden, is the safest city. Recently multiple surveys show that 36 percent women in the world are being physically or sexually harassed.
GO and NGOs are working together to prevent sexual harassment but progress has not yet come to a satisfactory level. WHO found that about 84 percent of Bangladesh women are sexual harassed. MJF and Karmojibi Nari have showed that 22.4 percent of female garment workers are sexually harassed at their workplace. According to the BNWLA, almost 90 percent girls (10-18 years) are victims of sexual harassment. Bangladesh Child Rights Forum (BSAF) published a report where, 1,383 children have been sexually assaulted in 2019. According to ASK the rape was 1,703 in the same year. Bangladesh Mohila Parishad (BMP) says it was 1,703. More worrying was police headquarters information.”Last year, there were 17,900 women torture cases, of which 5,400 were raped. In Bangladesh more than 32 per cent children face online harassment. According to (DMP’s) cyber security and crime department, more than 2,500 complaints were filed last year and there were 93,800 cases pending against women. According to Bangladesh University Grants Commission (UGC), there is no anti-sexual harassment committee in 59 percent Universities. Similarly, Bangladesh Karmojibi Nari, showed that this committee was not constituted in 68 percent factories. Due to lack of proper law enforcement and public awareness numerous incidents of rape and murder have been stirring. such as: Faria, Yasmin, Rupa, Ayesha Saima, Ayesha Moni, Samia, Khadija, Nusrat Jahan (Rafi) and many more.
The government has taken various initiatives to reduce sexual harassment and violence. We have the Dhaka Metropolitan Police Ordinance 1976, Section 27A of the Government Servants Discipline and Conduct Rules 1979, section 10 of the Nari-O-Shishu Nirjatan Daman Ain 2000, Telecommunication Act 2001, Labour Act 2006, ICT Act 2006, In 2009 the High Court issued 11-point directives on prevention of sexual harassment, Domestic Violence (Prevention and Protection) Act 2010, Penal Code 1860 (sections 354 and 509, Pornography Act 2012, Digital Security Act 2018 etc.
When the countrywide movement started after the assassination of Nusrat Jahan (Rafi) then the Directorate of Secondary and Higher Education (DSHE) directed all school and college authorities to set up an anti-sexual harassment committee in line with a 2009 High Court order.
According to this instruction, Plan International Bangladesh, Rupantar and youth network conducted a survey. The survey shows that anti-sexual harassment committee has been constituted in 97 percent educational institutes in Hatibandha upazila of Lalmonirhat district and only 39 percent in other upazila of the district. In some schools, only teachers are member of the committee because lack of specific policies. Somewhere parents, students, UP members and SMC members have been added to the committee. District and Upazila Child Welfare Board has already been informed about this concern.
In order to minimize sexual harassment and sexual abuse, the government should give more importance to some issues:
1. Sexual violence and harassment issues should be included in the curriculum. 2. Public awareness should be raised on GO and NGO initiatives. 3. In 2009 the High Court issued 11-point directives should be established and specific policies, laws should be formulated. 4. Since the word “rape” is abusive against women, another word should be used instead of this word. 5. Girls marriage under the age of 16 can be declared as a rape. 6. Separate laws have to be enacted (especially woman) to protect refugees who are staying in Bangladesh.
The government is sincerely trying to prevent sexual harassment and sexual terrorism. The constitution of Bangladesh (Articles 10, 26, 29, 31 and 32) guarantees the right of women to protection and participation. In addition to enacting laws, government non-governmental organizations and all ministries are working together. So we expected, Very soon Bangladesh will be transformed into a sexual violence free developed country by 2041with the achieving of SDG-5.
(Md. Mustafizur Rahman, development worker; email: [email protected])
