No safe space for girl child

A total of 813 girls were raped from January to August this year, according to data collected by the National Girl Child Advocacy Forum from reports published in 24 national newspapers.

Of the 813 rape survivors and victims, 110 were subjected to gang rape. According to the report, another 127 survived rape attempts. 

The National Girl Child Advocacy Forum released the findings from the "Girl Children Situation Monitoring Report 2021", at the National Press Club in Dhaka on Thursday.

There were 79 specially abled girl child among the rape survivors. 

The report also found that 193 girls were killed across the country. Most of them were murdered after rape or rape attempts, and due to family disputes. 

Altogether 112 girls were subjected to sexual harassment which is 7% higher than in 2020. A total of 140 girls were kidnapped or trafficked in the first eight months of the year. Nine girls were subjected to acid violence, as noted in the report. 

There has been a 13% increase in child marriage in the first eight months of the year compared to 2019. A total of 1,253 girls were married off in 2021.  

According to the report, cases have been filed against 536 rape or rape attempts, but no perpetrators have been sentenced so far. 

Suicide was another cause of girl child violence. The report found that a total of 153 committed suicide in the first eight months of the year. Failed relationships, sexual abuse, depression and family conflicts are the main motivators for the suicide cases. 

The report revealed that 24 girls or newborns were abandoned.  A total of 26 girls, who were working as domestic help, were subjected to violence at their employers’ places.  

National Girl Child Advocacy Forum Secretary Nasima Akter Jolly said a girl child was more vulnerable because of her gender identity. 

“Gender based violence does not spare children. Violence against girl children is similar to the kind of violence that happens against women in this society,” she said.    

The President of National Girl Child Advocacy Forum, Bodiul Alam Mazumder, said violence against girl child was prevalent in our society and absence of mass movement against this crime often perpetuated it. 

The National Girl Child Advocacy Forum recommended enacting a law on preventing sexual harassment, prioritizing violence against girls’ cases in virtual courts, forming a separate directorate for children’s protection, increasing the social safety net budget for girls and their families as many of them were married off due to poverty.