Battling violence against women and other maladies

Physical or sexual violence is a public health problem that affects more than one-third of all women globally, according to a new report released by WHO. Some 35 per cent of all women experience violence either by intimate partners or non-partners. The study finds that intimate partner-inflicted violence is the most common type of violence against women, affecting 30 per cent of women worldwide. The study highlights the need for all sectors to engage in eliminating tolerance for violence against women and better support for women who experience the health impacts of violence by an intimate partner. The impacts include:

* Death and injury;

* Depression;

* Alcohol use problems;

*  Sexually transmitted infections;

* Unwanted pregnancy and abortion;

* Low birth-weight babies.

Violence against women is extremely common in the world. We urgently need to invest in the task of addressing the underlying causes of this health problem undergone by women.

Columnist Parvez Babul and university teacher and researcher  Sharmila Chakraborty have dealt with the problem in their book How to End Violence against Women: Ensure Eco-Friendly Planet.

There are 42 well-written and very informative articles on different contemporary issues by both the writers which have been compiled in the book. These are:

1. Contribution of Begum Rokeya to transforming women's world;

2. Salute to rural women;

3. Women are not safe anywhere;

4. Bangladesh and Asia-Pacific development agenda beyond 2015;

5. Ensuring a violence-free world for women;

6. Women's rally for a secular Bangladesh;

7. Women's quality education helps prevent early marriage;

8. Women in media: Challenges and opportunities;

9. 152nd Birth Anniversary of Tagore;

Rabindranath: A portrayer of women empowerment;

10. Helen Keller Humanitarian Award;

Recognition of Hillary Clinton in improving food, nutrition security;

11. Climate change, women and food security;

12. Poet  Nazrul: the nightingale of humanity and freedom;

13. Violence against women and its consequences;

14. The Nobel Laureate and his thoughts on social issues;

15. Gender equality in the eyes of women;

16. Women's role in '52, '71 and Shahbagh;

17. The state of food security and nutrition;

18. Battling the scourge of vitamin A deficiency;

19. Rape victim of India,

Damini's death puts humanity to shame;

20. Crisis in Syria,

An open letter to US President Barack Obama;

21. Female migrant workers and the role of media;

22. Women's empowerment in coastal char areas;

23. Extreme Poverty Day 2012

Salvaging extreme-poor women from the vicious cycle of poverty;

24. How to end violence against women to expedite national progress;

25. Poverty, hunger and malnutrition of women and children;

26. Ensure Eco-Friendly Planet;

Hurricane Sandy plays havoc in the USA: A wake-up call;

27. International Day of Girl Child

Women are victims of discriminatory family laws;

28. Completing Education for All programme;

29. Let there be light for the children and women with blindness;

30. Impact of climate change on mountainous regions;

31. Poverty, vulnerability and sustainable development of Himalayan states;

32. International Mountain Day: Listening to the women of the mountains;

33. Gender equality strategy to empower women;

34. VISION 2020: the Right to Sight

The role of media in eliminating avoidable blindness;

35. Prevent blindness: Save sight and lives of millions;

36. Violence against women;

37. Padma Bridge: A prestige issue for Awami League Government;

38. Bring every girl child to school;

39. Women's reproductive health: breaking the silence;

40. Prevent war, establish peace and protect environment ;

41. Tribute to Shaheed Nur Hossain: Democracy and the role of media;

42. Ageing: A global challenge.      

Sharmila Chakraborty, in her article 'Contribution of Begum Rokeya to transforming women's world' writes: A large number of girl children are deprived of their basic human rights due to unacceptable health, nutrition, education and social condition. In addition, they are exposed to several forms of physical and mental violation at home, educational institutions, work areas and other places. According to recent UNICEF report, almost 50% rural girls are married by age of 15 and 60% become mother by age of 19. They are forced to drop out from school as soon as a marriage proposal comes along. So, most of them cannot become a productive member of the society.

Parvez Babul, in his write-up 'Women are not safe anywhere' writes: Women were not safe in any period of time and they are not safe anywhere of the world at present; research shows that even not in developed countries or in Europe! That is why women must break the culture of silence to enjoy their freedom of expression, freedom of mobility, freedom of observance of womanhood, freedom of choice to enjoy their lives, and freedom of protest against all the odds and obstacles they face every moment, everyday, everywhere. Considering all they are lagging behind, women must be more vocal to get space equally like men in every slit of the society. In addition, we need to conduct more research to know the baseline what women and men can accept to change their mindset positively to make a radical change. Religious leaders should come forward to let the people know the actual message of Islam in favour of women. Media people should cover more news articles to advocate bringing the hidden issues into the light disseminating information to empower the nation.

In another article titled 'Climate change, women and food security', Parvez Babul points out:  Climate change impacts on food and nutritional security are exacerbating existing vulnerabilities and inequalities in resource access, especially for women who are primarily responsible for food production and feeding families. This is unjust, because those who have done least to cause climate change would suffer most from its effects. Climate change is undermining the rights of vulnerable and marginalised people, including their right to food, health, water and life itself. It is estimated that climate change causes an average of 400,000 deaths each year, mainly due to hunger and communicable diseases that particularly affect children in developing countries. Climate justice seeks to highlight and remedy these impacts through a rights-based and human-centred approach. It aims to safeguard the rights of the most vulnerable and share the burdens and benefits of climate change and actions to resolve it equitably and fairly. The post-2015 development agenda must adopt a more holistic approach that acknowledges the inter-linkages between hunger, nutrition and climate justice. It should strive to support and establish new integrated approaches. The post-2015 agenda will only be relevant and useful if it is developed through an inclusive and bottom-up approach.

Considering the importance of the issues and recent information included in the articles, the book will help the readers know more about these matters, and also in using it as a reference.  

Pranto Prokashon of 36 Bangla Bazar, Dhaka, published the book in February 2014. Arup Mandi designed the cover. Total pages of the book come to 176. Price Tk. 250.00

The writer is a journalist and columnist.  [email protected]