Another college girl attacked
Not a day goes by without a news report of rape, stalking and violence against women and children in the media. In the latest incident that was reported in this daily yesterday, a girl in Nilphamari's Dimla upazila was brutally attacked by her stalker and his accomplices on her way to college.
In 2011, the High Court declared stalking of girls and women illegal, and directed the government to consider the offence as sexual harassment. The court also added that incidents of stalking of girls and women at any place in the country have to be brought under trial in accordance with the Women and Children Repression Prevention Act. In addition, it ordered the government to set up separate cells at every police station across the country to deal with such cases. One wonders if the directives given by the High Court have been followed by the authorities concerned.
According to Ain O Salish Kendra, from January till March this year, at least 16 children were sexually harassed by stalkers but only in six of the incidents, cases were filed against them. And most of such cases get settled outside the courts as the victims are mainly from poor economic backgrounds and the perpetrators are usually from local influential families. To make sure that the stalkers cannot get away with impunity, the local administrations should take effective actions against stalkers as soon as they get information of such incidents, as the High Court has directed.
Moreover, awareness must be raised against stalking from the school level. Topics of awareness against stalking should be incorporated in the school curriculum. We must also create a massive social movement against stalking as well ensure strict implementation of law to stop this crime.
- Courtesy: The Daily Star/ Editorial /Jul 26, 2018
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