Divisional youth gathering held in Rangpur to stop violence against women
Photo: Collected
With the slogan ‘Let violence against women end, let women get the respect they deserve’, a divisional youth gathering has been held in Rangpur with the aim of raising awareness on preventing violence against women and exchanging youth-led experiences.
The gathering was held on Wednesday morning at the BRAC Learning Centre in the Darshana area of Rangpur city. Paribarik Aay Unnayan Mahila Sangstha (FIDA) organised it under the Sochchar project with the support of Save the Children. The role of young people in preventing violence against women, gender equality, tackling cyberbullying and raising social awareness was discussed at the gathering.
Md Abu Zafar, director (joint secretary) of Local Government, Rangpur division, was the chief discussant at the event. The special discussants were Rangpur Additional Deputy Commissioner (Development and Human Resource Management) Md Shariful Alam, Divisional Social Services Office Director Zilufa Sultana, Department of Women Affairs Deputy Director Mosammat Seloara Begum, Rangpur Civil Surgeon Dr Shahin Sultana, Additional Superintendent of Police (DSB) Md Shariful Alam and Kuntala Chowdhury, head of the Department of Gender and Development Studies at Begum Rokeya University.
ZFM Firoz Pasha, director of Paribarik Aay Unnayan Mahila Sangstha, delivered the welcome address. The organisation’s Executive Director Firoza Begum presided. Masuda Ferdous Nishat and Sajid Arman conducted the event.
The event began with the national anthem and recitation from the Holy Quran. Later, a documentary on preventing violence against women and social awareness was screened.
In the discussion, speakers said enforcement of law alone is not enough to stop violence against women; awareness must also be raised at the social and family levels. In particular, the young generation must play an important role in respectful behaviour towards women, establishing equal rights and building social resistance against violence.
