Terror of harassment and lack of respect

May 27, 2015 12:04 am0 Comments

by Saira Rahman Khan
WHO can forget the fear that gripped the female students of Jahangirnagar University when a tidal wave of sexual harassment
and rape swept through the campus in 2008? The epic 40-day protest against the perpetrators and the university authorities? The
strikes on the Rajshahi University campus and the protests in Dhaka University in 2006 against acts of sexual harassment
perpetrated by professors? Who can forget the names Simi, Trisha, Farzana and Rumi young women who were forced to take
their lives due to relentless sexual harassment. Who can forget Yasmin? Raped and thrown away like a rag doll. The names go on,
etched in societys Hall of Shame. Women raped and harassed in garment factories, in police custody, by unemployed, idle men,
by perverts, by monsters strutting bravado gained by political protection, by cowards. How many of these preening perpetrators
have been socially denounced and ostracised for their act of cowardice? For their lack of morality? How many have been
arrested, tried and punished for their perpetration of a senseless act that is a criminal offence? Very few. For it is not only the lack
of investigation and arrests that is the problem, but the social stigma attached to sexual harassment, rape and other offences that
shame the family. These are not issues to make public. That is the sad truth.
On April 15, three occurrences of sexual harassment were reported in the daily papers that had occurred the day before. I am sure
many more went unmentioned. Large gatherings, concerts and fairs are the grazing ground for rapists and perverts. There was
even a story that on one particular February 21, Neanderthals were roaming the Shaheed Minar with blades and cutting womens
clothes from behind them. Now, back to the present. On the Dhaka University campus, on February 14, 20 women were violently
sexually harassed in a crowd of hundreds of people, where there were police and CCTV cameras deployed to protect the revellers
from possible terrorist attacks. What an irony! The women were attacked by what I can only describe as a pack of wild animals,
the CCTV cameras picking up the faces contorted in terror, fear and determination. The police were beating away those who
tried to help. It was quite easy to realise this, as a sort of circle had formed around the women and the animals. After this, the
Dhaka University authorities bluntly denied that such incident had taken place echoes from 2008. The police also said that
nothing had happened. More recently, a young Garo woman was gang-raped, leading to more protests and exasperation. Some
have focused on her religion, as if that was an excuse for her to be raped. Religion is not the problem here it is gender. Until
recently, citizens of Bangladesh have not been afraid of any religion, respecting all and living in harmony. Sadly, we can no
longer proudly say that in public. We are slowly stepping into the global and ignorant hate wagon.
People still use the term eve teasing. How derogatory! There is nothing funny or amusing about sexual harassment. Men who
use this term think about how you would feel if the victim were your mother, or sister or wife. What would you do? If you
made the decision to stop her from leaving the house, then we are truly still living in the dark ages. There is a High Court
decision barring the term eve teasing. It is sexual harassment and it comes in various forms and degrees, including sexual
comments, gestures, insinuations and physical acts of touching. You would think that respect for the opposite sex would be
something that is taught at home. One can only wonder at the domestic dynamics that give birth to such perverted mentalities;
and I am not only talking about the perpetrators. Those who let them go scot free and those who are sheltering them do not seem
to have any respect either. Throughout my 20 years of studying reports on rape and domestic violence, one thing is clear in
most cases, the perpetrator is known to the victim. He has either been stalking her, threatening her or harassing her in some form
or another for some time. Even then, like an eel, he slips out of the system assisted, no doubt by cash and protection.
On May 19, the School of Law, BRAC University and BRAC University Law Club jointly arranged a programme titled Sexual
Harassment and Rights of Women in Public Places. The existence, or non-existence, of security to women in the public space
and the rights that women have as citizens of Bangladesh and what women, and men, can do to put a stop to sexual harassment
and other such atrocious behaviour, were addressed by the guest speakers. Advocate Fahima Nasrin spoke about the necessity for
women to be strong in their profession, especially if they were going to be lawyers. She spoke of the reasons behind the case filed
by her, on behalf of the Bangladesh National Women Lawyers Association, challenging sexual harassment. This instigated the
High Court Division of the Supreme Court of Bangladesh to give a landmark judgement paving the way for defining acts
constituting sexual harassment, ensuring the creation of sexual harassment policies in academic institutions and keeping a register
for those using the facilities of cyber cafs. Professor Firdous Azim spoke of the necessity to be visible and not to be afraid to
venture into public spaces and be equipped with the tools to fight back. She said that the more women are out in public, the less
likely they are of being harassed if they are in a large group. She said that sexual harassment has no socio economic boundaries
and women in all walks of life must be able to enjoy the right to public life. Samia Islam, from Odhikar shared with the audience
various information and data regarding sexual harassment that was compiled from local human rights defenders and other
sources. According to her data, a total of 18 females, between the ages of 11 and 20 were killed by the perpetrators; and 71 of the
same age group committed suicide due to incessant stalking and sexual harassment. But why should we only talk of the victim
and her lack of justice? Those who dare protest also become victims. They become victims of crimes such as grievous hurt,
criminal intimidation and even murder. According to Odhikars statistics, between 2010 and 2014, 222 women and 489 men were
harassed and victimised by the perpetrator because they protested against the acts of sexual harassment.
Sexual harassment also affects other human rights. Parents stop sending the victim to school thus depriving her of the right to
education. Child marriages are one of the measures families use to protect adolescents from rape and sexual harassment
thinking that the protection of a husband will prevent such violence. Unfortunately, many married women are victims of sexual
harassment too. Furthermore, not only are child marriages illegal, they are also the root for other forms of violence associated
with illegal dowry demands, maternal health and mental health. I firmly believe the governments talk of reducing the
marriageable age of females from 18 to 16 does nothing to alleviate violence against women; and will only cause more violation

of rights. I am sure I am not the only one concerned. Instead of cutting off the aching head and indulging perverts and
perpetrators of crimes against women, our criminal justice system needs a good shakedown. There is no short-cut. Sexual
harassment is illegal, rape is illegal, corruption is illegal; deal with them in an effective legal and judicial manner. Think about the
victim and her life. Have respect.
Saira Rahman Khan teaches law at BRAC University.
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