Press Conference Organized by Amarai Pari (We Can) and Nari Nirapotta Jot

On 24 November, 2020  Amrai Pari Paribarik Nirjaton Protirodh Jot (We Can) and Nari Nirapotta Jot jointly organized a  press conference to present nine-point demand to stop violence against women (VAW) and children, and ensure speedy trial of VAW cases.

Of the nine points, two were that VAW cases should be settled in 180 days, and the HC must settle such cases on a priority basis within the prescribed time. The other demands include ensuring proper security, necessary treatment and compensation for survivors, children and their families during trial proceedings; modernizing and sensitizing the process of taking witnesses in VAW cases; ensuring necessary policies and actions by the government to execute the 2009 High Court guideline to prevent sexual harassment; making the Domestic Violence (Prevention and Protection) Act 2010 successful; adopting a zero-tolerance policy against rape, sexual violence and violence against women and children; announcing and implementing special campaigns against abusers of women and children; and amending and modernizing all kinds of laws and policies discriminatory to women.

The family members of victim were present in this press conference and shared their bitter experience what they have faced in society, administration and police while seeking justice for rape and murder.

Raising the demands Jinat Ara Haque, Excutive Coordinator of Amrai Pari Jot, told to the reporters, “We know that it is not possible to stop violence against women just by enacting laws. The need is to change the underestimated attitude of the society towards women. We need a social movement”. She declared that of 31 districts Amrai Pari District Alliance would do human chain and submitted the memorandum to administration.

The key note speaker Shahin Anam, Co-chairperson of Amrai Pari Jo, called upon the journalists to convey these heartbreaking experiences to the people through the media. Mahfuza Khanom, advisor of Amrai Pari Jot, delivered welcome speech to the audience. Sara Khatun, Program Coordinator of Netz Bangladesh, Afsana Binte Amin, Program Manager of Netz Bangladesh, Mahmuda Sultana, Program Head,Gender and Social Inclusion, Oxfam, Mahfuza Akter, Program Coordinator of Oxfam, Amrai Pari Jot Co-chairperson MB Akter and national committee members were also attended in this program virtually and physically.

Date: 24 November, 2020 Venue: National Press club, Dhaka