Whenever any crime takes place, most people firstly want to know who the victim is, and then they start judging. If the victim is a celebrity, some people start blaming them without knowing the truth. When a rape case occurs, most people tend to blame the victim and raise issues about her morality, social standing, fashion sense, sexual history, and way of life.
How can a victim fearlessly seek justice in such a situation?
Victim-blaming is deeply embedded in Bangladeshi culture, posing a significant barrier to confronting and preventing sexual abuse. When victims of violence or abuse come forward, instead of focusing on the accused's character or actions, people tend to shift blame onto the victim, questioning what she was wearing or her character, as if their actions somehow justify the heinous crimes committed against them.
Unfortunately, a sizeable percentage of the general population would rather character-attack victims than cast fingers at the accused.
By emphasizing on elements such as clothes or behaviour, blame is shifted from the perpetrator to the victim, implying that the victim caused or invited the mistreatment. This viewpoint ignores the fundamental concept that no one should be held accountable for the conduct of another. It also encourages damaging preconceptions and unequal power dynamics between genders.
Survivors of sexual violence may find it difficult to come forward and seek justice in this culture. Many victims refrain from reporting crimes for fear of being ridiculed or disbelieved, denying them access to the justice and support they need. This can result in a culture of silence surrounding sexual abuse, allowing perpetrators to continue harming others.
When the emphasis is on victim-blaming, the accused may feel more empowered and less remorseful about their acts, which may lead to them committing additional sexual harassment and rape crimes. This might result in a cycle of abuse and anguish for the victims.
Bangladesh lacks specific legislation that addresses victim-blaming in depth. However, in Bangladesh, there are a variety of laws and regulations that can be used to address victim-blaming and protect victims in various settings.
The Penal Code of Bangladesh, for example, covers a wide range of criminal offenses, including assault, sexual offenses, and domestic abuse. Evidence Act, 1872 of Bangladesh has laws that govern the admissibility of evidence in court proceedings. It contains restrictions about the victim's character, such as prohibiting the revealing of past sexual history or character that may lead to victim blaming or prejudice towards the victim. The Digital Security Act of 2018 has measures for dealing with online harassment, cyberbullying, and other types of digital victim-blaming.
Additionally, Bangladesh has laws related to women's rights and protection against violence, such as the Domestic Violence (Prevention and Protection) Act, 2010 and The Nari O Shishu Nirjatan Daman Ain, 2000 (Women and Children Repression Prevention Act).
These laws strive to create a legal framework for their justice and support while also protecting women and children from many forms of violence, including victim-blaming attitudes and behaviours.
In 2021, 810 rape and 225 gang-rape instances were registered in Bangladesh, according to a Bangladesh Mahila Parishad survey report. There were 4,762 documented rape cases and 9,768 reported incidents of violence against women in 2022 alone. According to the Dhaka Metropolitan Police, only 24 criminals have been convicted in the last five years.
Furthermore, according to the government's One Stop Crisis Centre, only 3.5% of rape cases under the Prevention of Oppression Against Women and Children Act, 2000 got to court over the preceding 19 years, with only 0.37% of cases ending in convictions. According to Human Rights Watch, only approximately 1% of reported perpetrators are ever convicted.
It's unacceptable that our country's judicial system can make it difficult for victims to achieve justice, frequently leaving them responsible for what occurred to them for years. Many victims of rape or assault do not report their experiences to authorities for fear that their accusations would be dismissed or ignored.
Survivors are typically hesitant to come forward, according to Naila Hossain, a social worker who works with sexual assault victims in Bangladesh, because they are afraid of being judged and shunned by their communities.
This highlights the importance of enhanced legal systems for bringing violent perpetrators to justice and preventing such heinous acts from happening in the first place. Because in societal beliefs, cultural traditions, and poor law enforcement, victim-blaming persists in Bangladesh despite these legislative safeguards.
In order to counteract victim blaming, a collective effort is required. Society must confront and change attitudes and beliefs, prioritize victims' support, protection, and privacy, and hold offenders accountable. Educational institutions must encourage gender equality, consent education, and empathy, while media sources must report ethically. Including these topics in the curriculum will help future generations.
Creating safe spaces and support services will help survivors. Changing cultural norms and attitudes takes time and effort. Let us foster a culture that believes victims when they make such claims.
It’s time to disrupt the victim-blaming loop and transfer blame from what women wear to what harassers do and think. We can work together to create a society that values women's independence and condemns all types of sexual harassment. Only by addressing victim blaming will Bangladesh be able to move toward a more secure and inclusive future.
Israt Jahan Orne is a freelance contributor.