Improve women's status to combat gender violence
12 March 2013, 18:46 PM
UPDATED
17 March 2013, 04:09 AM
Professor M Zahidul Haque, Dean, Faculty of Agriculture, Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University, Dhaka
This year's International Women's Day theme is “A promise is a promise: Time for action to end violence against women.” In Bangladesh women's status has improved during the last few years. But it has a long way to go to achieve gender equality. In my opinion, in faith-based communities, religious and social values are to be perpetuated and strengthened primarily to each and every family members and then to the community as a whole. Religious leaders have to play a constructive role to create awareness among the community members about their religious obligations and duties to protect women's rights and status. Community education for all the members of the community is essential. Poverty must be eliminated from society to ensure peace and feelings among family members and fellow community members. There are ample evidences that in many cases violence on women takes place due to poverty.
Perhaps formation of a decent society based on both traditional and modern values can help stop gender violence ensuring just status for the women in the community.
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