Speakers, including journalists, said on Tuesday that misuse of social media platforms and technology was deepening misogyny in society.
Their observation came at an exchange-of-view meeting titled 鈥楾he scenario of violence against women: thoughts of women journalists,鈥� organised by Bangladesh Mahila Parishad at its office in Dhaka city.
They called on the government to take action to prevent the spread of distorted information on violence against women through social media platforms.聽聽聽
In her welcome speech, Mahila Parishad general secretary Maleka Banu said that incidents of violence against women and girls were rising and becoming more visible.聽
Nowadays, the already entrenched hateful social attitude towards women was being fanned in various ways, she said, adding 鈥榓lthough there are laws in place to protect women鈥檚 rights, we all know how limited their implementation is in reality.鈥�
In her presentation, The Financial Express special correspondent Munima Sultana said that despite women鈥檚 contributions to development, the continued rise in violence was undermining their achievements.
Citing newspaper reports, she noted that around 1,555 women and girls were subjected to various forms of violence in the past six months, with the highest number of incidents occurring in March.
Although the numbers declined in the following months, it did not necessarily indicate a positive shift for women, she said.
Mahila Parishad鈥檚 senior trainer and research officer Afroza Arman said that an analysis of violence against women and girls over the past year showed that in almost every incident, girls were more frequently affected than women.聽
The rate of violence is particularly high among girls aged between two and 18 in the incidents of child marriage, sexual harassment, rape and gang rape.
Presiding over the event, Mahila Parishad president Fauzia Moslem said that violence against women would not end unless gender discrimination was effectively addressed.
To change society, one must first change oneself and reform institutional structures, she said.
