Virtual sexual harassment risen up in the country

Statistics of sexual harassment and rape are through the roof, and even those numbers are most likely underreported, as our system does not make it easy for women to report such crimes committed against them.

Not only women, now-a-days children are also affected by these kinds of unexpected incidents. At present in the virtual world sexual harassment has risen up. According to a report published in this newspaper, findings from a survey conducted by Ain o Salish Kendro suggests that 27pc girl children of the country are found to be sexually harassed by adult relatives 18pc by unknown adults.

The survey was conducted on 178 children, of which 36pc of girl children fall victim to sexual harassments from friends online. The report has been presented in a webinar titled “Analysing the Current Situation and Law Review to Prevent Child Sexual Abuse Online” held on 25 February 2021. The survey included 82 boys and 96 girl children, among which more than 8pc of the girl children were victims of sexual abuse and harassment online. Approximately 8pc of the children were victims of cyberbullying and came across sexually suggestive content online. 23pc of the girl children came across sexually suggestive content and 46pc were asked to form sexual relationships. The survey report suggests that more than 64pc of the children who participated in the survey have mobile phones of their own, while others use the phones owned by their parents. 63pc of male adolescents aged 15-18 years get more opportunities for internet consumption than their female counterparts.  

Despite widespread protests last year demanding justice for victims of sexual violence and a government initiative which saw an amendment to existing laws which would allow perpetrators to be given the death penalty if found guilty, incidents like rape and sexual harassments are increasing.

As this most recent case highlights, such attitudes have already been inherited by a new generation of Bangladeshis -- and no amount of economic progress is enough to hide the fact.

The loopholes of the existing laws to prevent such cases of harassments were also discussed at the ‘Analysing the Current Situation and Law Review to Prevent Child Sexual Abuse’ titled webinar. According to UNICEF, 25pc of children in the country get access to the digital sphere before the age of 11. The shift of academic lives from schools to online due to the pandemic has made the children more prone to sexual harassment online, according to the speakers at the webinar. 

According to the ASK’s information unit and data collected from 9 national leading dailies and online media, 35 children were reported to be sexually abused online in 2011, which increased to 71 in 2020. 399 children are reported to be sexually abused online from 2011 to 2020. After the formation of the cyber tribunal in 2013, there were 3 reported cases, which increased to 721 in 2019. Currently, there are over a thousand cases ongoing. 

Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) Vice Chairman, Subrata Roy advised the parents to follow proper parental guidance to prevent these incidents of abuse.

In addition to zero tolerance for sexual harassment and sexual violence, we need to educate young men and women at all levels that sexual harassment is never OK, and help is there for anyone who needs it.

Most likely, we are making incredible walks economically, yet the reality remains, women of this country actually wind up confronting harassment and feeling unsafe each and every day, regardless of whether out in the street, on open vehicle, or attending class.