The New Nation - Internet Edition

S.M Shahrear Akhlaque

Women are considering as 'vulnerable class' in the third world. In fact, among the entire marginal group, women position is most horrible as they are the most inferior in the belonging society. Over the past one decade the number of women and girls infected with HIV has increased in every region of the world, with rates rising rapidly in Asia, Eastern Europe even in America. Hence, in the above social context (Asia, Africa) without getting any other suitable option, a huge number of women bound to enter in such kind of profession (Prostitution) which is neglected in the society. Their huge portions are now suffering in AIDS, where they are extremely victim. Several times, they asked the partner (men) to use different types of contraception but they ignore to use. Truly, their limited autonomy and external factors, including social and economic inequities beyond their control. As a result, the victim prostitutes suffering in varieties of diseases where AIDS is the most dangerous one. They are always in high risk of HIV/AIDS.

These prostitutes are ignored, negatively behaved by the rest of the society. Commonly, they come from very poor family background; even their education status is very poor, where most of these women come from under primary school back ground. Hence, lack of strong family, economy or educational back ground, they bound to belong in such a group where they are inferior, marginal and vulnerable.

But those who are in top position; they exploited them in all sorts (economically, physically mentally). So abuse, by the verities classes of people, including social leader, police, criminal, local terrorist, very common experience of this victim class of women (prostitute). These women can't to face the society even their next generation (children) comes from the same experience of social exploitation.

At a glance, generation by generation they can't to control over their money, self body, and choice. But they have to exploit by the ruling class. So, very clearly, they have no decision making power of their own.

Perhaps more so than any other part of the world, Asian countries are experiencing highly assorted HIV epidemics, which are due to a number of factors comprising differential levels of risk behaviors such as multiple sexual partners, commercial sex industries and injecting/ intravenous drug user (IDDs). Also Asia consists of both developing and developed countries with a different of religious and different of cultural backgrounds.

Bangladesh is still a low prevalence country (HIV-infection rate is less than 1 %), it does not mean that we should relax about it; the prerequisites are there for an explosion. The increase of HIV/AIDS within the country is as diverse as the societal patterns between its different groups and areas. In fact, Bangladesh is going on make up of a number of concentrated epidemics, and in some vulnerable groups, such as injecting drug use is the main route of HIV transmission. Commercial sex and tracking would also play an effective role to this increasing.

Further elevating adolescents vulnerability, the level of underage involvement in sexual activity is mounting. Women in Bangladesh are largely getting sexual experience through marriage and for the most part, premarital sexual contact is mostly confmed to their future-husband or lovers.

"Rainbow Nari 0 Shishu Kallyan Foundation" found, sexual behaviour among Bangladeshi women is changing. Adolescent girls may not remain in the traditional sexual confmement of the previous generations and casual sex among them is on the rise. This may encourage AIDS to acquire alarming proportions in Bangladesh.

With the above authenticity, some devoted NGOs comes forward with supporting from international donor agencies, they are now actively working with the victim class- 'prostitute' for creating a social awareness regarding their social, cultural, economical, mental liberty. So, creating new arena with self awareness program, now major issues for NationaV International NGOs.

However, supporting these classes of women, Government have to come forward rather, only NGO's or individual level people can't to take any effective steps for get rid of these people and their up coming generation from HIV/AIDS. Finally, change is possible if sufficient attention, commitment and resources are invested from both public and private sector.