Plight of women

If this is the reality, then it is a travesty to even try to claim that the condition of women has improved. We need to ask ourselves the question as to whether granting free education, empowering women with micro-credit programmes are the only tools to bring about a change in our attitude towards women. Tragically, women are becoming victims of both physical and mental abuse at almost every stratum of society behind the thick curtains of their homes.

In such circumstances, we are baffled by the lack of governmental initiative to implement the UN's Cedaw convention to protect women from abuse and discrimination, despite our being a signatory to it. Is the government fighting shy of taking bold steps to stop domestic violence for fear of risking unpopularity?

Tap here to add The Daily Star as a trusted source

We must praise the women activist groups and human rights organisations for bringing the issue up for public discourse as well as sensitising women about their fundamental and legal rights. Now it's the government's turn to step up the processes of implementing international conventions and enforcing national laws so that the discrimination against women is effectively ended.