International Women's Day (IWD) And Harassment Against Women

International Women's Day (IWD) And Harassment Against Women

International Women's Day (IWD) is celebrated across over all the world on 8 March every year. Through more than 100 anniversary have been celebrated & about 50 years have been passed since independence of our country, creating a safer space for women & girls is still a grim reality for Bangladesh. Harassment usually refers to unwelcome sexual place, request or advance for sexual favors & other verbal / physical harassment when this conduct explicitly / implicitly affects an individual or individuals specially women & girls physically & mentally. It also includes non-physical forms such as catcalls, suggestive staring, body shaming, committing online harassment, doxing, non consensual sexting, remarks or making offensive jokes, belittling, hazing, demeaning, ridiculing and prank & hazing.

Type of Harassment Against Women:There are Various forms of harassment against women and some of them are briefed Below:

Domestic Harassment: Domestic harassment is a form of harassment that may occur against any family member at house/ home. Domestic harassment can also be named domestic intimate / abuse partner harassment which may refer to any pattern of behavior that is used to expertise power & control over an intimate partner. It encompasses physical, emotional, economic, sexual, & psychological actions that influence another person.

Cyber-bullying: Cyber-bullying involves the sending of threatening or intimidating messages.
Non Consensual Sexting: Non consensual sexting involves sending of explicit photos / messages without recipient's consent.

Digital or Online Harassment: Digital or Online Harassment against women refers to any of harassment that is committed, aggravated / assisted by use of communication or information technology (phones, mobile, computer games, email, text messaging, social media, internet) against women.
Concrete Materials Used to Harassment: Circulation or Display of pictures degrading or written materials to gender group / individual where such display is not directly related to academic freedom / to pedagogical, an  educational, work purpose, artistic.

Doxing: Doxing involves public release of identifying / private information about victim.

Causes of Sexual Harassment Against Women: There are many causes behind sexual harassment against women & some of them are discussed following:

Lack of Education: Lack of education is greatly responsible for harassment against girls or women. Since a greater section of girls or women in Bangladesh are illiterate. They don't have any clear idea about their responsibilities & rights. They (women) easily fall victim to this type problem. This lack of education makes their (women) life more vulnerable.

Poverty: Poverty is also responsible for vulnerable situation of women. Most of women in Bangladesh are busy with family affairs & household chores instead of involving with any out door activities. They are dependent on their male partners in life. They have to bear about all unbearable violence & abuses for their financial incapacity.

Power Games: Social & political changes in modern era have changed power relationships. Some men feel threatened by career advancement & assertiveness at home & new found independence at work of women.

Something for Something: Something for something harassment occurs when a person / manager in a position of power offers to give/ withhold something in exchange for a sexual favor. Many of high profile scandals that gave momentum to #MeToo movement involved something for something.
Socialization: In a culture where it's or was until recently. OK, to discriminate against people because they are different this abuse of humiliation / power that is typical of sexual harassment is often closely linked to sexist attitudes & prejudice in general.

Effects of Harassment Against Women: Effect of harassment against women vary widely. Harassment depends on nature of particular incidents, women relationship with abuser & context in which it took place. Gender based violence typically has psychological, physical & other effects. some effect are discussed following:

Physical: Physical effect of harassment against girls & women usually results in physical disability, chronic health problems, injury, reproductive & sexual health problems naming sexually transmitted diseases spread of High risk pregnancies & HIV.

Indirect: Indirect psychological effect include psychosomatic illness, alcohol, drug use, withdrawal.

Direct: Direct psychological effects include fear, mistrust, anxiety of other, post traumatic stress disorder, inability to concentrate, loneliness, suicide & depressions.

Economic & Social Impact: Economic & social impact of harassment are social stigma, ostracism at community level & reduced ability to economic activities & participate in social activities. Harassment causes to damage women's and girls confidence in fear to venturing into public access. Drop from educational institution & work-less due to absenteeism are very common effect of it.

Recommendations to Curb Persecution Against Women: There are some recommendations given following to curb harassment against women-

i. A legal framework can be said to be robust in protecting women from harassment when laws are free from misogynist phrases that creates stereotypes. Governments should ratify relevant human rights conventions & treaties & translate these into national laws so there is an appropriate framework to support girls & women.

ii. There should be enough educational programs to raise social awareness in all cultures & societies both women & men.

iii. There should be enough opportunities of participation in political parties / employments along with safety & security for women.

iv. A well planned monitoring & evaluation process of laws need to installed to check whether taken steps are working well.

v. Media and social media should also play an important role in ensuring women's rights.
vi. Law prosecution & enforcement are necessary in order to involve judicial system to combat harassment against girls & women.

vii. Implement effective measures to guarantee to the countries people without distinction based on descent, race, colour/ ethnic origin/ national right to security of person & protection by state against harassment / bodily harm are to be ensured.

viii. Legal procedure should be simplified to make them accessible for illiterate girls & women and change attitude of men towards women.

ix. Health care Department of Bangladesh Government / Ministry of Health should develop a policy on role of health care sector.

x. Sensitization & Training are needed at all levels of judicial system.

Women are always common targets of discrimination, persecution, exploitation & harassment. It is time for our country to come forward to reduce harassment against women in their lives.