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Int'l Women's Day Celebrated

Vow to work together to build violence-free society

Staff Correspondent
Not only women, but also men in large number joined the International Women's Day celebrations across the country yesterday to express solidarity with women and vowed to work together to build a society free from violence and repression
The global theme of the day litis year is 'Women and men united to end violence against women and girls.'
Various socio-cultural organisations held rallies, discussions, human chain and cultural function to mark the day.
In a statement yesterday, Unicef Executive Director Ann M Veneman said men and boys have a significant role to play in ending violence against women.
"One important way to make this happen is to institute programmes and activities that educate men and boys to take responsibility and to abandon the attitudes and practices that perpetuate violence," Ann added.
At a discussion at the Ramna Park, State Minister for Labour and Employment Monnujan Sufian said that women have advanced much in our society, but they’ still need
to go a long way to build a strong position for them.
The National Girl Child Advocacy Forum organised the discussion where the speakers urged all to change their mindset so that violence against women is no longer be considered a normal incident.
They also demanded equal wage for men and women, equal rights to property, restora-tion of the Women’s Development Policy of 1997, political empowerment of women and evaluation of women's contribution to the national economy through their domestic work.
Development Organisation of the Rural Poor (DORP) in collaboration with Manusher Jonno Foundation organised a discussion at 1DB Bhaban auditorium in the city.
The speakers at the discussion emphasised the need for mutual understanding between men and women in order to establish women's rights in the country.
Qazi Kholiquzzaman Ahmad, president of Bangladesh Economic Association, said women have advanced much in society, but the number of incidents of repression on them has not declined.
I Ie called for changes in the mindset to build a participatory society bused on equality, which can address the women's issues.
Wahida Banu, chairperson of Shishu Adhikar Forum, called for launching communitybased safety net programme led by elected public representatives.
Advocate Sanjida Khanam and M Hafizuddin Khan, chairman of DORR also spoke.
At another programme, Bangladesh Legal Aid and Services Trust (BLAST) demanded immediate distribution ofTk 20 crore allocated for working mothers of poor households.
Bangladesh Human Rights Commission and its 600 branches marked the day with different programmes across the country.
Under the banner of Samajik Protirodh Committee, a total of 52 human rights and development organisations took part in a rally at the Central Shaheed Minar celebrating the day.
At the rally, the leaders said women should be appointed at the higher level of die adminis-tration, in embassies and United Nations agencies.
They also called for steps to ensure that 33 percent of the
posts in political parties are held by women.
Around 1500 students of 60 educational institutions took part in a programme, organised by the Steps Towards Development at Ramna Park, and made a commitment to put an end to eve teasing and boycott the teasers.
Nari Unnayan Shakti (Women's Power for Development) observed the day with discussions and cultural programmes in 22 places, including Dhaka, Barlsal, Chittagongand Noakhah
Bangladesh National Women Lawyers' Association (BNWLA) in a discussion stressed the need to implement the policy to check sexual harassment in the educational institutions and workplaces.
Leaders of the Karmojibi Nari demanded womcn-friendly environment in workplaces and implementation of CEDAW and the National Women Development Policy.
Project for Rural Area Development and Improvement of Poor formed a human chain in front of the National Museum in the city and placed a nine-point demand, including ensuring women's social security.
Samajtantrik Mahila Forum, Gonosanghati Andolon, Bangladesh Chhatra Federation, National Garment Workers Federation, Garments Sramik Kendra, Bangladesh Garments Worker Unity Council, Banchte Shekho Nari, Jatiya Gonotantrik League, Bangladesh Nari Mukti Andolon. Bangladesh Kissani Shava, Association of Development Agencies in Bangladesh and Participatory Development Action Programm also held discussionsandrally.
Bangladesh Sanjukta Workers Women Commission, Shramajibi Kalyan Samity, Garment Workers Unity Forum, Biplobi Nari Sanghati, Concerned Women for Family Development and abc radio also organised various programmes.
Department of Women and Gender Studies of Dhaka University also took out a procession on the campus, led by Vice Chancellor Prof AAMS Are fin Siddiqui.