Conclusion
Our community FGDs, in both project and non-project
areas, suggested that, while much has changed over the
past few decades, women’s participation in community
justice has remained largely symbolic – and is contested
by many men and women. Indeed, during a random
community-level FGD in the upazila with both a village
court and an NU-shalish active, we spoke with an extended
family that rejected the authority and values of these
forums. One man in the group said women did not attend
traditional shalish in the area. When asked why, he said,
‘This is not a woman’s activity. Women have a strong
religious belief in their mind, and they also respect their
husbands strongly’ (FGD6). Such findings show the need to
recognise that women’s participation in the different forms
of shalish is likely to remain contested among different
communities.
Indirect outco