In spite of making great strides towards equality in the political, social, and cultural spheres in Bangladesh, it is a sad commentary that so many women face sexual harassment on the streets and on public transport every single day.
However, the fight is on to combat sexual harassment and violence in public places.
Initiatives such as the recent global awareness campaign titled “The 16 days of activism to end gender-based violence” can prove instrumental towards ensuring safety for women -- especially out in public -- by both spreading awareness of these issues and seeking changes at the policy level.
One of the suggestions the campaign has made to the government is to install CCTV cameras in public buses, where untoward behaviour from male passengers is a daily occurrence.
This idea is a good start, and it shows the kind of measures the administration could be taking to hold harassers accountable for their actions.
There must be zero tolerance towards perpetrators of sexual abuse, as a strong message needs to be sent to all would-be predators.
Ultimately, while measures to catch and punish abusers are an important part in the wider efforts to eliminate violence against women, what we need, in the long run, is a change in the mindset that lets many men and boys think harassment is somehow acceptable.
But there is a long way to go, because this involves properly educating young men, and this education begins at home.
