Speakers at a workshop in Rajshahi Sunday emphasised the need for freeing the society
from gender discriminations in the greater interest of establishing a non-discriminatory
and equitable society for taking the nation forward successfully.
To this end, they said importance should be given on women empowerment and
prevention of early marriage, sexual harassment and other violence against women.
Collective efforts to end all sorts of disparity and violence against women especially girls
has become an urgent need for restoring gender parity based society.
Partner, a rights based development organisation, in association with Diakonia hosted
the workshop styled “Gender Issues Based Social Conflicts: Ways to Remedies” held at
Master Schef restaurant discussing the related issues of how to build a gender balance
society.
The meeting found out some major causes and challenges of gender-based discrimination
and come across to share accepting on a discrimination free society.
Executive Director of Partner Abdus Sobhan Mian, President of Rajshahi Union of
Journalists Akbarul Hassan Millat and Prof Zannatul Ferdous of Social Work Department
of Rajshahi University addressed the meeting as resource persons with President of
Partner Joytuna Khatun in the chair.
Director (Programme) Alima Khatun Lima and Golam Zakir Hossain presented
concept paper on the issue sharing Partner’s experience on gender conflict which leads
discrimination and violence against women.
The discussants categorically demanded budgetary allocation for the campaign
programme against early marriage and sexual harassment in the educational institutions.
They also noted that special allocation should be arranged in the national budget for
adopting campaign programme for creating mass awareness towards establishing gender-
friendly atmosphere in the service-delivery institutions.
Taking part in the discussion some women development activists pointed out that the
overall national development could not be possible until the womenfolk are educated and
ensured all other fundamental rights they deserve.
They viewed the deep rooted gender norms and attitudes in the society must be
eliminated by mobilizing the entire society involving men, women, local leaders, civil
society members and public representatives.
To this end, sensitisation of various other groups is very important and needs to be done
as gender-based discrimination and violence against women occurred in the society
frequently.
