2,171 Women and Girls Victims of Abuse in Nine Months: Mahila Parishad Report

According to a recently published monthly report by the Legal Aid sub-council of the Bangladesh Mahila Parishad, a total of 2,171 women and girls in the country were victims of various forms of abuse and violence in the past nine months. Last year, the figure was 2,808.

Whether within the four walls of the home or on the way to school, the report's picture shows safe places shrinking for women and girls. Incidents of abuse against women and girls occurred from the start of the year, but they took a terrible turn in the middle of the year.

Statistics show that in January and February, the number of women victimised was 183 in each month. In March it rose to 190. It then reached 220 in April and 259 in May.

June was identified as the most terrible month of the year. In that month alone, 333 women and girls were victims of violence. In July the number fell somewhat to 299, and in August and September it came down to 252, the report said.

Analysis of the Mahila Parishad's data shows that young girls are the victims of the worst brutality. For example, in June alone, a total of 100 women were raped. Of them, 72 were girls. Among these were 52 cases of rape, 12 cases of gang rape, and seven girls were killed after being raped.

In the same way, 75 were raped in July, of whom 45 were girls.

The picture of killings alongside physical abuse is also frightening. In July, 50 (39 women and 11 girls) and in September 52 (39 women and 13 girls) women and girls were killed. In addition, incidents of mysterious deaths and abetment of suicide occurred every month, the report said.

In this age of modern technology, school and college-going young women and children are victims of cyber violence and stalking. In June alone, for example, 29 were stalked. Of them, 17 were girls.

Meanwhile, although raids were carried out in various places to protect girls from child marriage, in September alone one child marriage was completed and seven attempted child marriages were recorded.

According to experts, the lack of speedy trials and exemplary punishment for criminals, a culture of impunity, patriarchal attitudes and moral decline are emboldening criminals. Alongside this, family hardship and the unchecked spread of cyber crime are making the situation more complicated.

The report said women's insecurity at home or outside is not the crisis of a single family. Experts believe this violence cannot be stopped without strict enforcement of the law, increased social awareness and a change of mindset at all levels.