Symbolic Hunger Strike to Protest Rape and Sexual Violence against Women & Girls

Violence against women is in alarming stage in Bangladesh. Violence against women is continuing in our country, moreover increasing day by day. In January to June 2019, 1041 women experienced violence, wherein 469 were raped (report: Amrai Pari Jot). Whereas in January to December, 2018 total 1441 women experienced violence, wherein 396 were raped (report: AmraiPari Jot). There are so many reasons behind the situation. However, mostly impunity encourages the perpetrators.

To protest present shocking situation of violence against women Amrai Pari Paribarik Nirjaton Protirodh Jot (WE CAN Bangladesh) organized a symbolic hunger strike on 25 November, 2019 at Central Shaheed Minar, Dhaka.1 victim and representatives of 4 victims’ family from 5 districts who are experienced with violence, Girls Advocacy Alliance Change Makers, prominent human rights activists, representatives of NGO, INGO, CSO, citizen’s platform, journalistsparticipated the program. Victim and the representatives of victims’families shared their experience, social & legal challenges and present situation of their cases. After the symbolic hunger strike a memorandum containing 9 demands submitted to the office of Prime Minister. Nine (9) Demands are:

1.      Woman and children repression tribunal have to upgrade to special tribunal for ensuring quick trial.

2.      Initiative have to be taken for decreasing the case backlog

3.      Witness recording system has to be updated

4.      Government awareness has to be continue for The Domestic Violence Act 2010

5.      Security, treatment and compensation has to be provided to a victim during trial

6.      According to High Court directives, the sexual harassment prevention policy have to be formulated and enforced

7.      Zero tolerance policy on all kind of sexual repression

8.      Drive against rapist and assailants as like the ongoing drive against corruption

9.      Each and every discriminatory law has to be updated which is related to woman and children repression

19 Newspapers, 7 online news and 13 TV Channels gave coverage of the program.

1. Bangla Tribune

http://www.banglatribune.com/others/news/594797/%E0%A6%A7%E0%A6%B0%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%B7%E0%A6%A3-%E0%A6%AF%E0%A7%8C%E0%A6%A8-%E0%A6%B8%E0%A6%B9%E0%A6%BF%E0%A6%82%E0%A6%B8%E0%A6%A4%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%B0-%E0%A6%AC%E0%A6%BF%E0%A6%B0%E0%A7%81%E0%A6%A6%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%A7%E0%A7%87-%E0%A6%AA%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%B0%E0%A6%A4%E0%A7%80%E0%A6%95%E0%A7%80-%E0%A6%85%E0%A6%A8%E0%A6%B6%E0%A6%A8

2. net

https://sarabangla.net/post/sb-352857/

3. Bdnews24

https://bangla.bdnews24.com/bangladesh/article1693185.bdnews

4. Banglanews24

https://www.banglanews24.com/national/news/bd/755012.details

5. net

https://www.palabadal.net/details.php?id=80579

6. The Daily Star (Online Bangla)

https://www.thedailystar.net/bangla/%E0%A6%B6%E0%A7%80%E0%A6%B0%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%B7-%E0%A6%96%E0%A6%AC%E0%A6%B0/%E0%A6%A7%E0%A6%B0%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%B7%E0%A6%95%E0%A6%A6%E0%A7%87%E0%A6%B0-%E0%A6%B9%E0%A7%81%E0%A6%AE%E0%A6%95%E0%A6%BF%E0%A6%A4%E0%A7%87-%E0%A6%A8%E0%A6%BF%E0%A6%B0%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%AA%E0%A6%A4%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%A4%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%B9%E0%A7%80%E0%A6%A8%E0%A6%A4%E0%A6%BE%E0%A7%9F-%E0%A6%B8%E0%A7%81%E0%A6%AC%E0%A6%B0%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%A3%E0%A6%9A%E0%A6%B0%E0%A7%87%E0%A6%B0-%E0%A6%B8%E0%A7%87%E0%A6%87-%E0%A6%A8%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%B0%E0%A7%80-126946

7. com

http://www.womennews24.com/%E0%A6%98%E0%A6%B0%E0%A7%87-%E0%A6%AC%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%87%E0%A6%B0%E0%A7%87-%E0%A6%A8%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%B0%E0%A7%80-%E0%A6%B6%E0%A6%BF%E0%A6%B6%E0%A7%81-%E0%A6%A8%E0%A6%BF%E0%A6%B0%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%AF%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%A4%E0%A6%A8-%E0%A6%AC%E0%A7%87%E0%A7%9C%E0%A7%87%E0%A6%9B%E0%A7%87-%E0%A6%86%E0%A6%B6%E0%A6%99%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%95%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%9C%E0%A6%A8%E0%A6%95-%E0%A6%B9%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%B0%E0%A7%87/12201