The state should enforce strict laws and wage a social movement against stalking of women while families must teach children social and moral values to stop the menace.
Stalking has turned into a deadly social disease like terrorism, speakers at a roundtable noted yesterday, stressing the need for using a term like “sexual harassment”, not eve teasing for stalking.
They also suggested increasing interaction between boys and girls by arranging social and cultural programmes and involving them in more extra curricular activities.
The roundtable titled "Social resistance
against stalking” was organised by daily Prothom Alo at its office attended by a cross section of people yesterday.
Emphasising the need for changing the mindset towards women, speakers said all the components of the society — family, educational institution and media — will have to resist the nuisance from a united platform.
Speaking as chief guest, Education Minister Nurul Islam Nahid said the rising number of stalking incidents is the manifestation of overall social and moral degradation.
"We're formulating a modern curriculum and we'll include these issues so the male students can learn to respect their counterparts. ” Nahid said his ministry will prepare a guide on issues like stalking and drug addiction for the teachers who will discuss those in classroom.
Stalking of women has taken a turn for the worse with a growing number of people being killed for trying to resist the menace.
In last nine months, at least 25 women killed themselves to escape the horror of abuse, while nine males lost their lives for standing up against stalkers, says a report of rights group Ain O Salish Kendra.
Salma Khan, former chairman of the UN Committee on Elimination of all forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), said at the roundtable that stalking incidents would not have taken such an alarming turn, had the stalkers been punished with an iron hand.
Social apathy, politics and patriarchal mentality are the reasons behind it, she said, suggesting employment opportunities for the youths.
Dr Mehtab Khanam, a psychologist, said families should educate children on social and moral values at an early age when children's personalities start to develop.
"The problem will never end unless the families take the first step, ” she said.
She also urged reporters to choose their words carefully while covering stalking incidents.
Dr Mizanur Rahman, chair-man of Human Rights Commission, said stalking should be considered as a crime. According to him, the culture of impunity is the main reason behind it.
Ayesha Khanam, president of Bangladesh Mahila Parishad, suggested moving forward with a holistic approach to address the problem.
Proper implementation of law together with a massive cultural movement can stop stalking, she observed.
Shaheen Anam, executive director of Manusher Jonno Foundation, said women are still considered as weak, dependent and a commodity in the society.
"A campaign should be launched for changing women's status in the society," she noted.
AKM Shahidul Haque, additional inspector general of police, expressed hope for a significant change with mobile courts being empowered to punish stalkers on the spot. The relevant law has been amended recently.
"But, there's no alternative to waging a social movement," hesaid.
Prothom Alo Joint Editor Abdul Qaiyum; former Bangladesh Cricket Captain Habibul Bashar Shuman; Soheli Khadiza Azad, chairperson of Women and Gender Studies Department at Dhaka University; Salma Ali of Bangladesh National Women Lawyers' Association (BNWLA); Mushfiqur Rahman, principal of Rajuk Uttara Model School and College; actress Joya Ahsan; actor Chanchai Chowdhury; media personality Abdun Noor Tusher; and North South University student Linara Rahman also spoke at the programme.