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In solidarity with 16-days campaign

Mohammad Mamunur Rashid
The period November 25 to December 10 has been marked as international fortnight to protest violence against women. The United Nations declared November 25 as International Day to Protest Violence against Women and December 10 as International Human Rights Day. This specific period of time, popularly known as 16 days campaign against violence against women, symbolises the link between violence against women and human rights.
Each year millions of people from all comers of the globe take part in this campaign to spread the message that violence against women is acnially a breach of human rights and that everyone has a role to play in order to stop it. In 2009, the campaign has been dedicated to those individuals and groups that are working to defend women's human rights.
They are working to encourage all to come forward to extend support, and also to attract international attention and support to redress violence against women. They are demanding accountabil-
ity of the international and national instruments that are responsible for upholding people's rights. This year the theme of the 16-days campaign is "Commit ? Act ? Demand: We Can End Violence Against Women!"
Violence against women, or genderbased violence, is a human rights and public health crisis around the world. The United Nations Development Fund for Women estimates that at least one of every three women is beaten, raped, or otherwise abused during her lifetime. In some countries, approximately one in four women and girls over age 15 may experience sexual violence by an intimate partner at some points in her life. A 2005 World Health Organization study found that at least one in five women reporting physical abuse had never before told anyone about
/Among the most common forms of violence against women in Bangladesh are physical and mental torture for dowry, murder, rape, abduction, early marriage, trafficking, forced prostitution, sexual harassment and eve teasing. A survey conducted by UNFPA in Bangladesh and South /Asia reveals that one of every two
women is victim of domestic violence. UN World Development Report says that South Asia has the highest domestic violence rate and Bangladesh stands 28th in the world. Around 60 percent women are subject to torture at the hands of their husbands. Women are also subject to marital rape. The husband thinks that, as the wife is married to him, she is bound to obey all his wishes and orders without any question.
In fact, the problem is so deeply embed -ded in the society that it is almost impossible for the government alone to solve it. Therefore, it is increasingly being recognised that all individuals, groups and institutions are responsible. For that, all traditional attitudes and values, customs and cultures that tend to restrict women should be protested against and removed.
As conscious citizens we all are bound to combat violence against women. There is no way to avoid violence against women by considering it as a personal issue because family, society and state all suffer in the end. Such a belief is now' increasingly being shared by people throughout the world.
In the Fourth World Conference on Women held in Beijing in 1995, all governments took part and jointly adopted the Beijing Platform For Ac tion (PFA). The year 2010 wall mark the 15th anniversary of that historic event. However, the progress so far is only a little. We need to demand implementation of all international and national instruments, including the Beijing PFA. Governments must allocate more money and resources to combat violence against women, and ensure punishment of all
perpetrators.
We need to remember that the cost of violence against women is huge. Those children who grow up in families that experience violence against women are more likely to fall behind children who are brought up in a happy family atmosphere. There are huge health costs implications too, due to die treatment of physically abused women and children. Women and girls experiencing violence are mentally troubled. It is really hard for them to be rehabilitated in the mainstream society or take part in economic activities. So society misses out their valuable contributions that could have been vital for the development.
If we want a violence-free society, then we need to remember that it's not enough to keep ourselves free from oppressing others. Rather, it is necessary to act or protest against any incidents of violence that may happen around us — individually and collectively. We should not forget that the main perpetrator that helps violence against women to go on and on is our silence. The more the people start talking about it the better is the possibility of redressing it. So let all of us express solidarity with the 16 days campaign against violence against women. Let's make the world a better place for living. It is time to spread the message to all. Don't waste time
- - express solidarity now!
You all can contribute
• You can work as a volunteer with those organisations that provide assistance or shelter for the victims of domestic violence or sexual harassment;
• Encourage the local representatives of your areas to express solidarity with the 16-days campaign against violence against women;
• Motivate local teachers and school management committees to address the issue in the class lectures and through other special initiatives;
• Organise your friends in a group and discuss the areas of violence against women in your locality. Take joint initiatives;
• Write in local newspapers, wall magazines on the issue;
• Arrange funding to assist the women victims of violence and collaborate with others working for the same;
• Develop and publish posters, leaflets, stickers, T-shirts.
• Arrange discussions and sharing sessions in your organisation and take part in similar activities initiated by others;
• Join in debates and discussions on violence against women on Facebook or other web-based social networks and engage your friends and others;
• Wear a white ribbon and encourage others to express solidarity with women human rights defenders around the world.
Mohammad Mamunur Rashid is Deputy Coordinator, Steps Towards Development
***We should not forget that the main perpetrator that helps violence against women to go on and on is our silence. The more the people start talking about it the better is the possibility of redressing it. So let all of us express solidarity with the 16 days campaign against violence against women.****