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Sexual Harassment and Rape in 2019

The Bangladeshi NGO on human rights Ain O Salish Kendra (ASK) collects figures based on reports of sexual violence in newspapers. In 2019 the number of rape reported in newspapers has doubled in comparison to the number in 2018.

ASK presented their findings on reported sexual harassment and rape on 24th December 2019 at a press conference in the National Press Club. ASK stated the facts and figures in their report titled ‘Human Rights Situation 2019’. According to the collected newspaper articles, 1413 women and children were reportedly raped in 2019. 76 women reportedly died after rape and 10 women committed suicide. There were 224 reports of attempted rape.

Furthermore, 258 women endured sexual harassment, and 18 committed suicide as a result. Sexual harassment also led to the drop out of 2 girls from their schools. A number of men have become victims of violence when they protest against the harassment of women. The report says that 44 men were either murdered, assaulted or injured by stalkers when they protested against harassment of women.

The statistics presented are reported cased of rape and sexual harassment. The actual numbers of rape and sexual harassment are expected to be much higher, as most cases are never reported, due to stigma, shame and ineffectiveness of the law and justice system. Also, the increase in newspaper reports on sexual violence doesn’t mean the actual cases of sexual violence have increased.

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