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40 girls and 1,420 women raped this year

Rights groups call on people to unite against violence towards women

Staff Correspondent
Women face harassment and violence not only on the streets but also at home from their own family members and at work from their colleagues and those in authority.
A movement has been going on for decades against repression of women, but the latest statistics indicate little change in the overall scenario of women's safety in and outside their homes. This is the back-drop to Manusher Jonno Foundation (MJF) leading a 16-day-long campaign that began on International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women yesterday.
MJF along with over a dozen other rights organisations gathered at the Central Shaheed Minar in Dhaka to call on people, irrespective of gender, to unite against discrimination and violence towards women.
The rally began with slogans demanding an end to gender vio-
lence, women's safety, equal rights and equal social status. The campaign will end on Human Rights Day on December 10.
Since 1997, rights organisations have been holding such programmes to protest violence
against women and girls. This year's theme is "#HearMeToo - End Violence against Women and Girls.”
Speakers at the rally repeatedly urged all to listen to those raising their voices against harassment on social media, before questioning
the accusations.
MJF in a press release said there was an increase in the contribution and visibility of women in political, social and economic activities. But there is a serious lack of recognition of their work. To ensure social respect of women and to recognise their contribution, MJF began a movement called "Equality through dignity" in 2012.
The focus of the movement is still on achieving recognition of women's work in family and at social and community levels. The core belief behind it is that if women's contribution to economy is made visible, their status will be elevated - resulting in a decrease in violence against them.
According to the 2015 violence against women survey conducted by Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics, 74.8 percent of rural married women face violence while the
number is 71.1 percent among married women in urban areas.
This year's data, until now, from rights body Ain o Salish Kendra and 9 newspapers gives a grim picture too.
In the last 10 months, 40 girl children and 1,420 women have been raped, 112 girls and women have faced sexual harassment, and 22 have suffered acid violence. Moreover, 160 women have been subjected to domestic violence while 152 have been tortured and killed for dowry.
Speakers at the rally said implementation of existing laws and awareness at all levels are necessary to stop incidence of violence against women.
Men should also come forward to ensure a society where women would have the courage to speak up against any kind of violence and harassment perpetrated against them, said MJF Executive Director Shaheen Anam at the rally.