Reports on violence against women must reach ministry within 24 hours: Adviser
"A country should be judged by how it views, protects, and safeguards its women and children," she said
Women and Children Affairs Adviser Sharmeen S Murshid has instructed officials of her ministry to submit reports on violence against women and children across the country within 24 hours.
She gave the instruction while addressing a press conference at the conference room of the Press Information Department (PID) at the Bangladesh Secretariat today (24 November).
She said that within 24 hours of receiving any report on violence against women and children, government officials will reach out to the victim and ensure all necessary medical treatment and legal support.
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She added that the 16-day campaign to prevent violence against women will begin tomorrow and conclude on 10 December. During the campaign, every officer and employee of her ministry will remain active in preventing violence against women.
"We do not sit with the media very frequently, but we intend to do so more regularly after today's event," Adviser Murshid said, adding that although the upcoming campaign has an international origin, its significance within Bangladesh's social and community context is immense.
"We have always seen political rulers commit oppression against women to serve various political interests. They grab land by committing violence against women or children so that families leave the area," she said. "If they want to influence elections, they impose violence on a community and place its women at risk so that the group is forced to leave. Those with malicious political motives benefit from these incidents. We must get rid of this."
She continued, "You know that I have observed elections for 25 years. I have seen the condition of women. That is why I can explain these experiences. Women face direct violence and often become victims both for reasons and for no reasons. Walking on the street, they face harassment."
The adviser said, "In an enlightened society, there is a natural respect for women and children. When that begins to crumble, the society itself begins to deteriorate. Over the past 16 years, under an authoritarian environment, we have seen an extreme manifestation of this."
She added, "A country should be judged by how it views, protects, and safeguards its women and children."
Adviser Murshid said, "Since we have come a long way and fought many movements, during the July mass uprising, when nearly 70% of women came out onto the streets, the nation was astonished. The entire world was astonished. The courageous expression of women was inspiring. This proves that women are in no way inferior to anyone else."
