HC guidelines against sexual harassment
Thursday, 21 May 2009
ON May 14 last, the High Court Division laid down the guidelines against sexual harassment of women. The guidelines came following a writ petition filed by Advocate Salma Ali after the sexual harassment of a female student in Jahangirnagar University by a teacher. Women are happy with the guidelines.
Every sensible person should welcome the guidelines in a situation where women are harassed everywhere. In educational institutions, they are harassed by their teachers. In garment factories, they are harassed by their superiors. They face eve teasing when they come out of their homes. They have no security.
But the question is: Can the court's guidelines stop harassment of women? I think only greater social awareness can stop the menace. At the same time, following the court's issuance of the guidelines the administration should make a law to protect women's rights. Any violation should be strictly dealt with, under the law.
How can a man harass a woman or a child? Does he not have his own mother, sisters or daughters? How can he harass others' mothers, sisters or daughters? Does he not belong to a family and the society?
Mahfuzur Rahman Manik
IER, Dhaka university
mahfuz_du@hotmail.com
Every sensible person should welcome the guidelines in a situation where women are harassed everywhere. In educational institutions, they are harassed by their teachers. In garment factories, they are harassed by their superiors. They face eve teasing when they come out of their homes. They have no security.
But the question is: Can the court's guidelines stop harassment of women? I think only greater social awareness can stop the menace. At the same time, following the court's issuance of the guidelines the administration should make a law to protect women's rights. Any violation should be strictly dealt with, under the law.
How can a man harass a woman or a child? Does he not have his own mother, sisters or daughters? How can he harass others' mothers, sisters or daughters? Does he not belong to a family and the society?
Mahfuzur Rahman Manik
IER, Dhaka university
mahfuz_du@hotmail.com