The one-stop crisis centre, which was formed in 2001 to provide medico-legal assistance for victims of physical and sexual assaults, has turned more into a medical treatment centre.
The idea behind the initiative was to provide all required services for a woman-child victim of violence in one place. The OCC was to provide health care, police assistance, DNA test, social services, legal assistance, psychological counselling and shelter service etc.
However, since its formation, 16,804 victims have been treated at the OCC, of which only 3,747 victims took legal action against the responsible meaning that 78% had opted to keep quiet.
Even those who did seek legal action against the abuser did not get justice as the OCC provided them with legal support until the filing of the case however, did not follow up to see justice being delivered.
In most cases the victims were somehow managed as their families wanted to escape from social humiliation.
Four-year-old Rima (not her real name) from Dhaka city was raped by a neighbor. When taken to Dhaka Medical College Hospital, the unconscious girl was admitted to the OCC. However, her father wanted her pulled out from the unit as the area was restricted and only one female family member was allowed to attend to her.
“We are not aware of what is going on inside and Allah knows whether the incident will become public as I have to firstly consider my daughter’s future,” he told the Dhaka Tribune.
He continued that he was frightened about whether the OCC would provide them support following Rima’s discharge from the unit after 5-6 days, “Who will give us security?”
Dr Bilkis Begum, coordinator of the wing in DMCH, pointed out that the lack of coordination between the victim’s family and OCC was the key cause for such low number of legal pursuit. “They never coordinate with us and simultaneously, we cannot give them proper security. When the victims come to OCC, we file a case. However, after they go back, they do not want to pursue it anymore. Justice could have been ensured if the procedure was made easier for them.”
“For that purpose we could form a special court in the OCC,” the coordinator added that in most cases, the victim’s family struck a compensation deal with the abuser.
“When we try to pursue the case, they avoid it out of insecurity,” said Bilkis adding that around 800 cases are pending in the courts due to the victims’ absences.
However, the victim’s families countered the allegation. Father of a victim, Sumi (not her real name), said, “They arranged treatment for my daughter and filed a case also. However, when we came back to our village, the accused tried to stop us. If we did not stop, they would have harassed my girl further. There was nobody to give us any support. So we did not want to continue.”
Lawyer for human rights and women policy, Salma Ali, pointed out: “The lengthy legal procedures sometimes discourage the victims from seeking legal assistance.”
She pointed out that as long as the OCC is not providing proper legal support to the victims, the project is unsuccessful. “It should be called a Medicare centre, not one stop crisis centre.”
She added, “We cannot force the guardians into fighting the abusers in court. But, we can try to strengthen their resolve and motivate them through counseling.”
Psychologist Mehtab Khanom pointed out these victims may suffer for long-term mental and physical problems. They may get in deep depression, may feel violated. For these reasons, they need Medicare.
“But to resolve the situation and end that violation, we have to ensure legal fight and give punishment to accused.”