There must be justice for brave Nusrat, says UN chief in Bangladesh

The UN resident coordinator in Dhaka has hailed Nusrat Jahan Rafi as a “brave” girl who stood up against the gender-based violence, and said “there must be justice for Nusrat”.

“And it must go further than that,” Mia Seppo said on Wednesday while speaking at the launch of the state of the world population report of the UNFPA in Dhaka.

State Minister for Health Murad Hassan and UNFPA Bangladesh representative Asa Torkelsson were also present.

Nusrat, a 12-grade madrasa student, in Feni district was killed in a gruesome attack in which five people set her on fire at the madrasa’s rooftop on Apr 6.

She died with nearly 85 percent burns to her body on Apr 10 in a Dhaka hospital. She had been tricked onto the roof of the madrasa for not withdrawing the sexual assault case against the principal of her alma mater Islamia Senior Fazil Madrasa in Sonagazi.

The horrific attack shook the entire nation. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has promised justice to Nusrat’s family.

Seppo said this tragedy pierced the hearts of all who heard about it.

She spoke up against gender-based violence. “Her brave decision to do so was met with even more violence, ending her life. Not only is this unacceptable but such violence against women should not continue.”

“There needs to be systems in place to protect women and girls from sexual harassment and assault. When prevention fails, perpetrators must be held to account and those who speak up must be protected against retaliation,” Seppo said.

“Without this, equality cannot be achieved,” she said, adding that, “We owe this to Nusrat and every other woman or girl who faces such unimaginable violence.”

The UNFPA’s flagship publication ‘State of World Population Report 2019’ is themed on the ‘Unfinished Business – The Pursuit of Rights and Choices for All’.

The resident coordinator, Seppo, said the unfinished business related to gender inequality is the “key hindrance” to the achievement of other SDGs.

In other words, “gender equality is an enabler goal that facilitates the achievement of all other goals – not only in Bangladesh but for this entire region.”

“Violence against women remains a serious issue in parts of the region, as does child marriage, not only in Bangladesh but in various other parts of the world including countries in South Asia such as India, Nepal, Pakistan,” she said.

“In Bangladesh, the reinforcing factors of violence against women are also clear when we also look at the recent UPR = Universal Periodic Review findings that were disseminated by the Ministry of Women and Children’s Affairs.”

For example, she said, in Bangladesh there is still a lack of initiatives to monitor the implementation of existing laws penalising all forms for violence against women and girls.

“Justice system is still relatively weak - where the laws are not women friendly; the trial is lengthy; lack of sensitivity of the law enforcers, judiciary, administration as well as media.

“Initiatives to adopt legislation according to High Court verdict to criminalise sexual harassment of girls and women in education institutes, and public and workplaces are yet to be taken,” she said.

“With these challenges around violence against women, gender equality would be a challenge to be achieved, thus, inequality would continue to persist.”