<i>52 per cent men assault female partners</i>
Reveals study
About 52 per cent of men in both urban and rural areas in the country physically assault their intimate female partners, while 10 per cent of urban and 14 per cent of rural men commit sexual violence against women (partner and non-partner), said a study.
Over 60 per cent of men think that woman deserves to be beaten, while many think women should tolerate violence to maintain family bonding, according to the study revealed at a city hotel yesterday.
International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh (ICDDR,B) with the help of United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and Partners for Prevention, an international NGO, conducted the survey from January to June in 2011.
The survey was conducted on 1,254 men in urban and 1,146 men in rural areas.
While addressing the occasion, State Minister for Women and Children Affairs Dr Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury stressed that a topic on gender equality should be in textbooks at school level.
She put emphasis on coordinated efforts to end violence against women.
The study shows 29 to 35 per cent of men sexually abuse women out of their anger or for punishing them, while 57 to 67 per cent just for 'fun'.
After committing violence, about 43 to 51 per cent of perpetrators do not have any reaction, while 37 to 39 per cent feel guilty and 15 to 25 per cent face legal consequence.
The study also placed some recommendations to end violence against women including changing men and boy's gender attitude, comprehensive media awareness campaign, empowerment of women and implementation of more gender equitable policies.
UNFPA Bangladesh representative Arthur Erken and ICDDR,B acting Executive Director Dr MA Salam, also spoke.
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