'Domestic Violence Act needs more implementation'

The Domestic Violence (Prevention and Protection) Act 2010 needs to be implemented at more levels, stated a study conducted by Bangladesh National Women Lawyers’ Association (BNWLA), and Plan International. The research paper titled “Domestic Violence (Prevention and Protection) Act 2010: Is it helping survivors?” was published on Wednesday at a seminar jointly organised by the two organisations and supported by USAID in Dhaka. Prof Shahnaz Huda, principal author of the research, said: “The number of filed cases under this DVPP act is slow at the outset, because lawyers are not interested in pursuing the cases, as such cases are not lucrative.” She suggested simplifying the legal definitions, along with clarifying terms, conditions, and punishments for breach of community service orders. Jinat Ara Haque, national coordinator of We Can, said: “Law should be progressive. We need more budget for the government and NGO to implement this act and raise awareness among mass people of the society along with the implementation authorities.” Regarding the effectiveness of the DVPP act, chief of Party for Plan International Henry Alderfer said: “We have vastly improved the lives of more than 4,238 survivors from domestic violence, prevented 1,388 child marriages, and made 33 child-marriage-free unions declared by the government.” Emphasising on the proposed Child Marriage Restraint Act 2016, Nasima Begum, secretary of Ministry of Women and Children Affairs (MoWCA), said: “The proposed Child Marriage Restraint Act 2016 will be good at the end of the day.” “We have awareness projects and campaigns around the country where teenagers are the members and they will help and coordinate with the government to stop child marriages,” she added. Deputy Chief of Mission for US Embassy David Meale; Joint Secretary for Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Umme Kulsum; Executive Director of BNWLA Salma Ali; Project Director of Multi-sectoral Project on Violence Against Women of MoWCA Dr Abul Hossain; and Director of National Legal Aid Services Organisation Malik Abdullah Al-Amin also spoke.