Editorial
Violence against women
Needs collective effort to contain
WE observed the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women on November, 25. Violence against women in different tiers of society in Bangladesh has been an age old issue. Much work has been done to combat the menace but there is a lot more to accomplish as this is a behavioral change issue which needs time to rectify.
Besides the traditional views of women and their role in society, there are other factors which contribute negatively towards women's situation. For example, there is lack of a strong legal mechanism which protects women against violation of their rights. While there are laws, most often they do not get enforced. Impunity provides incentive for more violence and, sadly, law often does not side with women in Bangladesh. There is also lack of women's shelters and support system for those who fall victim to violence and abuse.
Violence is committed towards women in all sections of society, from the rich to poor. Some we see with our bare eyes, some we don't. Young wives, who cannot give dowry to their husbands and domestic help often become victims of violence. We read about them in the papers but we cannot think of too many cases where the violators were convicted or got duly punished. Women have been murdered and been victims of acid attacks time and time again. Violence against anyone is a crime and the more we accept it the further we stray from being a civilized country.
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel.
Comments