Though in the modern era, women are breaking traditional gender roles by venturing into a world once dominated by men, we have yet to ensure the safety of women in our society.
Violence and eve-teasing against women in our society are rising alarmingly. Whether it be in public or private, women find themselves vulnerable to the threat of harassment in different forms everywhere.
In past years, we have witnessed many sad incidents where girls took their own lives since they feared that the incident would bring dishonour to their families.
The effects of abuse and harassment have forced many young girls and women in Bangladesh to commit suicide.
Laws that protect
The parliament has enacted many laws to protect women and children in our country from various offences. There are legislations in place to deal with these things.
Section 76 of Dhaka Metropolitan Police Ordinance 1976 provides an imprisonment of three months or a fine, or both, if someone uses indecent language or behaves indecently in public places. Section 76 of Dhaka Metropolitan Police Ordinance 1976 provides for one year imprisonment or fine or both for harassing a woman.
Newly amended Section 9(ka) of Nari-o-Shishu Nirjaton Domon Ain states, if a woman commits suicide as a direct consequence of somebody’s willful oppression/ sexual harassment/assault, then the offender will be liable to a maximum of 10 years, and a minimum of five years of imprisonment. The amendment does not provide a remedy for non-contact sexual harassment. In addition, there are several provisions in Nari-O-Shisho Nirjaton Daman Ain to protect women from sexual harassment.
There are many existing laws to protect the rights of women, but the law alone is not enough to prevent this malady
Section 354 of the penal code provides for two years imprisonment for assault or criminal force on a woman with intent to outrage her modesty. Section 509 states that whoever intending to insult the modesty of any woman utters any word, makes any sound or gesture, or exhibits any object, intending that such word or sound shall be heard, or that such gesture or object shall be seen, by such woman, or intrudes upon the privacy of such woman, shall be punished with simple imprisonment for a term which may extend to one year, or with a fine, or with both.
The Parliament has included Section 509 and some other provisions like section 294, 354, 357 of Penal Code 1860, and some key provisions of the Acid Control Act in the Schedule of the Mobile Court Act 2009 empowering the Executive Magistrates to impose punishment on perpetrators on the spot.
In response to a Writ Petition filed by National Women Lawyers Association (BNWLA) (No 5,916 of 2008) the court issued an eleven-point directive in 2009 which suggested a detailed definition of sexual harassment that includes all other existing definitions of non-contact sexually-charged offences.
Only the law is not enough
Under Article 32 of the Constitution of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh, a woman cannot be deprived of her personal liberty.
A woman has the right to move throughout the country under Article 36 of the constitution. The government has also declared June 13 as Eve Teasing Protection Day to raise awareness against this social evil. There is also a National Helpline Centre for Violence Against Women and Children with a dedicated 24-hour telephone helpline.
From childhood, girls are taught by society that they are weaker than men and therefore they should be humble and submissive in front of them.
There are many existing laws to protect the rights of women, but the law alone is not enough to prevent this malady. The girls of our society must be educated at large to protect themselves against any wrong-doing towards them. At the same time, we should not forget to educate our boys to be respectful towards women while playing their social and biological roles. They should also be taught to grow up as healthy individuals.
Miti Sanjana is an Advocate, Supreme Court of Bangladesh and an activist.
