Change Mentality to Keep Women Safe: Speakers

Speakers at a webinar have laid emphasis on changing the mentality in the society to keep women safe saying it is difficult to change the social situation only by-laws and acts.

They said it important to have a discussion among the men on this fact apart from the discussion among the women.

ACTIONISTS arranged the 12th episode of the webinar series with the purpose of a discussion on the various aspects of torture and violence due to gender differences.

The webinar with the title "Addressing Violence Against Women in Bangladesh" was broadcast live from the official Facebook page of "ACTIONISTS".

Aroma Dutta, MP, women's rights activist; Selina Ahmed, Psychologist and head of BRAC's Gender Justice and Diversity Program and Mahfuza Akter Mala who is Coordinator of Oxfam's Gender Justice and Social Inclusion Programme spoke at the webinar held on Tuesday.

Barnana Bhowmick, lecturer of the Department of Mass Communication and Journalism at Jagannath University hosted the program.

Mahfuza Mala says, "The society has shaped the culture of gender dominance defining and compelling the masculine and feminine activities. Rape and other violence happen not only because of sexual desire, but power relation is also an important factor."

Aroma Dutta says that it is hard to change the social situation only by-laws and acts if we cannot change the mentality of our society.

"Discussion among the men on this fact is more necessary besides the discussion among the women. Because all we need first is to bring a change to people's psychology."

Selina Ahmed said the struggle with the violence is harder to address in the women of middle-class families due to issues of social respect.

"The lack of good governance as well as the law and order system is a factor behind the increase in violence. We need a system with policymakers who will be cooperative to bring the change with accountability."

The webinar was moderated by ANM Fakhrul Amin Forhad, Founder and Executive director, ACTIONISTS.