AS per a report in a national daily on Monday, women continue to face sexual violence at workplaces; but they don’t lodge complaints fearing job loss and retaliation by perpetrators in an environment such crimes are going with almost impunity. Civil society leaders made such disclosure while speaking at a dialogue at BRAC Centre in the capital ahead of International Women’s Day to be observed on March 8. They demanded concerted efforts to improve the working place condition for women and said it needs cooperation of employers, their managers and awareness among women how to save them in vulnerable situation.
The nation observe the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women on November 25 and International Women’s Day on March 8 every year but violence against women continues to be the age-old issue. Much work has been done to combat the menace but there is a lot more to accomplish as it needs behavioural change. A study titled ‘Gender based violence at the workplace causes and consequences’ in 2008 said 92.3 percent working women of urban areas and 88.3 percent of rural areas have been badly treated due to various types of violence perpetrated by their male counterparts.
Some working women said they are helpless to save them from the advances of their immediate supervisors or male colleagues to keep their service uninterrupted. This is alarming but it continues. We have several criminal laws for prosecuting perpetrators for violence against women – for sexual harassment and violence in private sector and public domain. The Domestic Violence Act 2010; the Repression against Women and Children Act 2000 (amended in 2003) covers several public and private acts of violence; the Acid Crime Control Act 2002; as well as provisions in the Penal Code prosecute crimes involving corrosive substances.
But such legal framework appears ineffective in combating patriarchal practices and dominance because of exceptions in the laws and loopholes. As a result, social norms that are detrimental to women are reinforced. Meanwhile, impunity provides incentive for more violence and, sadly, the law often does not take side with women. Reports said over 520 harassment related cases were filed by women from 2013 to February 2016 across the country. Although it does not represent the true picture which is much larger, no significant progress in these cases were seen to give justice to the aggrieved women.
Violence is committed towards women in all sphere of society, from the rich to poor. We read about them in the media but we cannot think of too many violators were convicted or punished. Violence against women is a criminal offence and the more we tolerate it the further we will go astray from being a civilized country.
