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Keynote Paper (excerpts) presented by Dr. Kaniz N. Siddique
fn t ern a (iona I (Jon suitant, Min is try of Pi na nee I low are the women citizens of Bangladesh doing?
Efforts towards reducing discrimination, deprivation, devaluation and injustice against women over the years through activism of women's organizations, NGOs, government's policies and actions created some positive impacts on women's positions in family, community, society and in the state. Women made noticeable gains in education; health and nutrition, participation in the labour markets and business activities; political participation and social status. However, it is also important to keep in mind that there is no room for complacency. There Is still a long way to go in terms of eliminating all pervasive discrimination and injustice against women that prevails in Bangladesh.
Women citizens of Bangladesh continue to suffer extensive and intensive discrimination, depravation, devaluation and injustice throughout their lives in various aspects compared to their men counterparts. These prevails is different forms and extensity in all social and economic classes, castes, religion and ethnic groups. These discrimination, depravation, devaluation and injustice are manifested in terms of high level of social deprivations and social insecurity such as
• considering birth of a girl child as a social and financial burden
• early marriage of girls
• marriage without consent of the girls/women, • practice of dowry taking
• high occurrence of abandonment of women by men • wide practice of polygamy by husbands
• not having deci sion making power on childbearing
• not having much bargaining power within the marriage and in case of breaking up of the marriage
• women's confinement mainly within the home
• overemphasis on women'shonour
• overemphasis on women's appearance
• Women's social deprivations cause them to suffer economic, legal, institutional and political deprivation and discrimination
• Low or no access to property and assets (land ownership. access to credit etc.)
• human capacity building (health, nutrition, education, training access to information, awemess etc.)
• Limited assess to labour market, particularly to the high end labour market, limited opportunity' to earn income, over emphasis on women role in the non- paid household and care activities
• Low legal rights particularly in case of dispute related to family and property issues (practice of polygamy, lower level of rights in case of the brake up of marriage etc.) and low access to justice
• Lack of voice or opportunity to express opinion take place at three levels: first, at personal and family level; secondly, at community and society level and finally, at the state level
• Low mobility and security both within home and in publicspace
The worst form of manifestation of discrimination, deprivation, devaluation and injustice takes place in terms of Violence Against Women (VAW). Such violence takes place both in public space and also within the household. The occurrence of family violence is endemic in all ethnic and religion groups and In all social and economic classes. Women in all socio-economic classes are subject to domestic violence. In most cases the incidence of domestic violence often go unreported therefore it is difficult to obtain any statistics on this. In fact often it is considered the prerogatives of the husband to batter their wives to discipline them in cases of need when the wife is disobedient and argumentative with the husband or elders of the family. Society in large may not particularly encourage it but if it happens does not condone it either, however often bettering of wife is considered as a necessary’ evil and there is tolerance and even tacit social support towards domestic violence particularly if it is not "excessive”. Male guardians also equally finds battering of daughters, sisters and other female dependents necessary' but may be undesirable. Women are also bartered by in-laws.
Without getting into the details of the definition of family and society' one can safely assumes that people lives in family and society’ because they provide a variety’ of supports to the individuals towards their progresses and prosperities and in return people obeys or adheres to social norms, values and code of conducts. Each instance of violence against women indicates that fact the women are thus not safe either within their own families or in the community’ and the greater society.
What are the forms, perpetrators, manifestation and consequences of violence
Violence Against Women can be divided on the basis of many criteria. However, here distinction is made on the basis of where it takes place. Violence against women can take place within the homestead and also in the public space. Thus one can categorized violence against women as domestic violence and violence in public space Domestic violence (family member committing the violence): The main causes of domestic violence are: establishing male dominance in the family, common disagreements, poverty, heightened sense of socially determined perception of masculinity, boy child preference, money related conflicts, land or other property’ related conflicts, dowry related conflicts, polygamy related conflicts; conflicts related to distribution of household resources and wellbeing, women member with disability' or other vulnerability’ (old age, sickness) are perceiv’ed as burden.
Perpetrators of domestic violence Manifestation of violence Consequences
Husbands, fathers, brothers, mother-in-laws, second wives and other in-laws, other male members of the immediate and the extended families etc- Mental tortures in various forms- Deprivation in the form of not having access to sufficient food, leisure, and treatment facilities- Burdening with excessive workload and long working hours- Battering (occasional or on a regular basis)- Sever battering (occasional or on a regular basis)-Incest, sexual molestation, rape etc.
Subjecting girls to trafficking Involuntary murder (manslaughter) by accident or through provocation to commit suicide
Voluntary murder Mental anguish
Minor physical injury-
Major however reversible physical injury’
Major irreversible physical injury' leading to physical disability or acute disease
Sexually transmitted disease, including HTV and AIDS-Lose of honour -Unwanted pregnancy -Mental disability-Death Violence in public space (outsiders committing the violence): Causes of violence against women in the public space are mainly: establishing male dominance and supremacy, family related rivalry' and property’ related disputes and taking revenge against women as women's honour is considered as a source of strong vulnerability | and disgrace for die family, professional rivalry, socialisation where men's desires and urges are given overimportance, negative portal of women in media and entertainment industry.