Introduction
Conflict, violence, discrimination
and exclusion cause suffering for millions of people across the world today. A
report on WHO stated that each day, 4,200 people die from violence (1.6 million
a year), more than 90 percent of them in low and middle-income countries.
Violence is among the leading causes of death for people aged 15 to 44 years
worldwide and most of them are youth. In recent years Bangladesh experienced
increased socio-political and religion based violence, these results death of
more than 600 people across the country. In 2015-16 political violence kills
more than 150 and Islamic extremist kills 30 persons respectively. Victims and Criminals most of them were youth aged.
Though, Nationalism,
Socialism, Democracy and Secularism are the four founding pillars of the
constitution of Bangladesh, the recent attacks on ethnic, religious minorities
and different political views people make us question its practice in reality.
The question that may arise here is how we should instill social harmony in our
society. As citizens of Bangladesh it is everyone’s responsibility to work for
how we reinstall social harmony in our society.
To reinstall social harmony at society, at first we have to know, what are
violence and its nature and responsible factors of violence, academic research
after that we can take proper remedy measure of conflict resolution. The young
population across the globe has reached a remarkable 1.8 billion out of 7.3
billion, and countries like Bangladesh (UNFPA-2014) is namely 47.6 million
people. This young population is a blessing in the sense that it implies
strength, energy, vigor, pool of work force and a full potential for future
leadership. If we fail to grab this opportunity, this young population could
create a disastrous hazard for the nation.
What is Violence?
“Physical force unlawfully exercised toward property and/or persons, causing or intending to cause damage or injury”.
"the intentional use of physical force or power, threatened or actual, against oneself, another person, or against a group or community, which either results in or has a high likelihood of resulting in injury, death, psychological harm, mal development, or deprivation"---- The World Health Organization
Youth Violence
The
general term Youth Violence is used to describe when youth between the ages of
10 and 24 years intentionally use physical force or power to threaten or harm
other people.
Youth
violence can take different forms. Examples include fights, bullying, threats
with weapons, and gang-related violence. Youth violence typically involves
young people hurting other youth.
All
communities and all young people are affected by youth violence. Specific types
of youth violence vary across locations and groups, but no place or person is
immune. Youth can face violence from their peers in their neighborhoods, on the
streets, online, and at their schools. Regardless of where youth violence
happens, the consequences are felt by everyone—young victims, their friends,
families, neighbors, schools, communities, and local organizations.
Contributing Factors to Youth
Violence
Individual Factors:
Past exposure to violence,
impulsiveness, weak school/college achievement, poor problem-solving skills
Relationship Factors:
Peer delinquency, parental
conflict, limited parental monitoring and supervision
Community Factors:
Residential instability, weak
economic growth and stability, gang activity, crime
Societal Factors:
Norms about the acceptability of
violence, limited education and economic supports and opportunities
Causes of Violence in Bangladesh
Following
the World Health Organization, youth are defined as people between the ages of
10 and 29 years in Bangladesh age between 18-35 years. Youth violence refers to
violence occurring between youths, and includes acts that range from bullying
and physical fighting, through more severe sexual and physical assault to
homicide. Worldwide some 250,000 homicides occur among youth 10–29 years of age
each year, which is 41% of the total number of homicides globally each year
(WHO-2008). Youth violence greatly increases the costs of health, welfare and
criminal justice services; reduces productivity; decreases the value of
property; and generally undermines the fabric of society.
The
following four-level version of the ecological model is often used in the study
of violence in Bangladesh;
- 1 Biological and personal factors
- 2 Close relationships
- 3 Community context
- 4 Broad societal factors
Biological and
personal factors;
Biological and
personal factors that influence how individuals behave and increase their
likelihood of becoming a victim or perpetrator of violence
It includes;
demographic characteristics (age, education, income), genetics, brain lesions,
personality disorders, substance abuse.
Close
relationships;
The second level
focuses on Close relationships, such as those with family and friends. In youth
violence, for example, having friends who engage in or encourage violence can
increase a young person’s risk of being a victim or perpetrator of violence
Community context;
The third level
explores the Community context—i.e., schools, workplaces, and neighborhoods.
Risk at this level may be affected by factors such as the existence of a local
drug trade, the absence of social networks, and concentrated poverty.
Broad societal
factors;
Finally, the
fourth level looks at the Broad societal factors that help to create a climate
in which violence is encouraged or inhibited.
It includes-
Social and cultural norms regarding gender roles or parent-child relationships,
income inequality, the strength of the social welfare system, the social
acceptability of violence, the availability of weapons, the exposure to violence
in mass media, and political instability.
Consequences of Violence;
What role do youth currently play in violence prevention and response in
Bangladesh;
Violence
prevention is a joint responsibility of policy-makers, opinion-leaders and
donors. The priority focus needs to shift from response to prevention and from
collective violence to self-directed and interpersonal violence, such as
gender-based violence or violence against children. Children and youth are
disproportionately affected by violence, discrimination and exclusion and
therefore need to become the focus of our attention and action.
Bangladeshi youth
now play various roles on preventing violence at community such as;
By
Volunteering;
Volunteering is at
the heart of community building. Volunteering is an excellent way for an
individual to become involved in the life of the community. It brings together
people from different backgrounds, cultures and religions and helps to develop
compassion and friendship, thereby fostering respect for diversity. Such as
NGO’s are making supports in this regard. At YPSA under Leadership Development
Program, youth leaders are organized at union level, they are now working on
prevention violence at community.
By
Community Based Organization;
Youth feel a sense
of pride and usefulness, as they are able to actively contribute to their
community. By Community Based Organization, youth playing a vital role on
preventing violence at community. Such as at Sitakunda youth developed some
community club, whose are working on prevent violence at community.
Example: Sabuj
Pata Club, Muradpur, Sitakunda and Amaratu Amarai, Kumira, Sitakunda etc.
By
Youth Campaign;
Youth Campaign
plays a vital role on preventing violence at community. NGOs are now organizing
youth campaign, where the discuss on harmful effect of violence, role of youth
on preventing violence. In recently YPSA arranged a youth campaign, where major
discussion issue is role of youth on preventing violence.
By
Youth Dialogue and Discussion;
The promotion of
inter-cultural and inter-religious dialogue between youth creates an
opportunity for people of different backgrounds to get to know each other and
understand each other’s points of view. To consideration on above things, YPSA
arranged a youth dialogue and discussion event under BD with me campaign,
however, it’s a regular task of YPSA also other NGO in Bangladesh.
Through
Cultural Performance;
For preventing
violence at community, youths are organizing cultural performance at community through
art, dance, theatre, folk song, music, digital stories and film festival. Under
YPSA-Leadership Development Program, youth leaders are organizing various
cultural performances for preventing violence at community.
Through
Sports;
For preventing violence
at community, youth are organizing various sports at community. It is now
widely practiced at our community.
Through
Social Media;
For preventing
violence at community, youth are now using Social Media. Social media like
facebook, twitter offers unprecedented opportunities to raise awareness against
violence, to help users stay safe, and to inspire people to engage in social
activism.
Example: At
Sitakunda Youth are create a facebook page namely; Youth Leaders Forum of
Sitakunda
Through
Community Radio and mass media;
For preventing
violence at community, youth community radio volunteer develop community radio
talk show on youth, radio drama etc. These programs are broadcasting at
community. In that regards community radio as Radio Sagor Giri Fm 99.2 and its
youth volunteer play a vital role.
Values
and skills based education;
Values and
skills-based education is key to overcoming discrimination. Learning and
cultivating open-mindedness and understanding will help us to accept those
around us and to respect their differences. With self-reflection, we can
identify our own biases and work to erase them by developing skills such as
active listening, empathy, dropping bias and non-judgment.
Peer
Education;
Promoting peer
education, Youth are more receptive to learn from other youth instead of being
‘taught down to’ by adults. Peer education, therefore, favours exchange at a
level of equality, trust and thought-provoking learning where solutions are
explored and found together.
Respect
of our diversity and equality;
Promoting respect
for diversity at an early age can help to reduce future discrimination based on
gender. This can have far-reaching impact by helping, more generally, to change
stereotyped or perceived gender roles, thereby creating greater and more equal
opportunities. It can also help to reduce gender-based violence of which gender
inequality is a root cause.
Existing programs or initiatives that have worked on preventing violence;
For preventing
violence, several government and non-government organization are working
closely with youth:
- BLAST
(Bangladesh Legal Aid and Services Trust) is working very actively to provide
necessary legal and other support services to youth victims through the
implementation of court of arbitration.
- ACD (Action for
Social Development) is working to stop violence against youth and girls as well
as for their empowerment. They work for the victim of acid burns, trafficking,
and sexual abuse. ACD has shelter homes, drop in centers, under privilege child
care homes etc.
- WOMEN LAWYEARS
CLUB is the venture of woman lawyers to ensure legal support for victimized
women free of cost. It provides legal aid and mediation sessions between the
women and the perpetrator.
- OCC (ONE STOP
CRICIS CENTER) is an organization operating 24 hours a day to provide women any
kind of help including medical aid if wounded, shelter if insecure, counseling
if frightened or confused and legal aid. In short, woman in crisis can access
safe and secure help when needed.
- Jatio Mohila
Odhidoptor, Mohila Porisod and Aaingoto Sohayota Songstha are government
organizations which generally arrange for the settlement of victims.
-Democracy
International, Bangladesh is an INGO is working very actively on preventing
violence at Bangladesh, as BD with me campaign.
- Young Power in
Social Action (YPSA) is an NGO is
working very actively on preventing violence at Bangladesh, as Community Legal Services for Access to Justice Project, BD with me
campaign also others activity under various program and using Community Radio
as Radio Sagor Giri FM 99.2
- BD with me
Campaign;
A public awareness
campaign to highlight tolerance, build unity & seek peaceful alternatives
to violence supported by partnership of Bangladeshi & International NGOs as
Democracy International, Bangladesh, ANUVAB FOUNDATION, AVAS, OVA, ELLMA, YPSA,
Jaago Foundation, Barendra Unnayan Prochesta, Speed Trust, PROTASHA, ASUB,
RUPANTAR, YPSA, NABOLOK, PABNA PROTISHROTI, USS
Summary;
On preventing violence
and conflict resolution, several government and non-government organization are
working closely with youth. Violence is socially organized, it should be preventing
socially. So, youth can play a vital role.
References;
- BBS. (2011),
“Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics”, Statistics Division, Ministry of Planning,
Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh, Dhaka.
- Bangladesh Economic
Review. (2012), “Bangladesh Economic Review”, Economic advisor wing, Finance
division, Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh, Dhaka.
- Banglapedia.(
2003), “National Encyclopedia of
Bangladesh”, Dhaka: Asiatic Society of Bangladesh.
- Bangladesh
Demographic and Health Survey. (2011), Dhaka, Bangladesh and Calverton,
Maryland, USA: National Institute of Population Research and Training, Mitra
and Associates, and Macro International.
- Nurun Nabi, (2011), "Demographic Trends in
Bangladesh", Department of Population Sciences University of Dhaka, Dhaka
-
Centre for Policy Dialogue. Bangladesh (2014), “Analytical Review of
Bangladesh’s Macroeconomic Performance in Fiscal Year 2014-Second Edition”,
IBRD.
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Unnayan Onneshan, (2010), “Bangladesh Economic Update: Inflation, Unemployment
and Growth Trajectory”, Volume.1. No 4, October 2010.
- Department of
Youth Development. (2013), “Activities of the Department of Youth Development”,
Ministry of Youth and Sports (www.dyd.gov.bd), Dhaka
- Heise, Lori L.
(2011), "What works to prevent partner violence: An evidence
overview", STRIVE Research Consortium, UK
-Promoting a
culture of non-violence and peace, International Federation of Red Cross and
Red Crescent Societies, Geneva, 2011
- World report on
violence and health: summary. Geneva, World Health Organization, 2002
-Abbey A, Zawacki T,Buck PO etal
(2001). Alcohol and sexual assault. Alcohol Health and Research World,
25(1):43–51
- David-Ferdon C, Simon TR.
Preventing Youth Violence: Opportunities for Action. Atlanta,
GA: National Center for Injury
Prevention and Control, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2014
Useful
Web links:
-www.wikipedia.org
-
http://unfpabgd.org/index.php?option=page&id=132&view=press&Itemid=999
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