BRAC conducted a study to identify existing gaps in the public prosecution system in connection to violence against women and girls (VAWG) cases, and to recommend a survivor-centric reform mechanism.
An advocacy dialogue on “Strengthening the public prosecution system in Bangladesh to ensure justice for survivors of gender-based violence” was organised to share the findings and recommendations from the study at BRAC Centre in the capital on Monday, according to a press release.
“In the 385 cases reviewed by us, only 36 out of 505 accused were convicted, meaning the conviction rate was only 3.6%”, said Md Tajul Islam, researcher and lawyer, Bangladesh Supreme Court.
He also recommended establishing a competitive appointment system for public prosecutors and ensuring monitoring their performance and accountability.
Humaira Parvin, deputy police commissioner, Women Support and Investigation Division, Dhaka Metropolitan Police, spoke about the legal and departmental accountability mechanism of Women Support and Investigation Department ensuring justice for violence against women and girls.
Shekh Ashfaqur Rahman, director (training), Judicial Administration Training Institute, Ministry of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs, stressed on the need for periodic gender sensitisation training to ensure judges act sensitively with survivors.
Tanjina Ismail, retired senior district Judge, Dhaka Judge Court, spoke about ensuring transparency and accountability of the public prosecutors as a way to ensure justice for VAWG survivors.
Dr Sohel Mahmud, head, Department of Forensic Medicine, Sir Salimullah Medical College, Dhaka, discussed expanding arrangement for forensic testing to the district level.
Mohammad Al Mamun, director (district judge), National Legal Aid Services Organization (NALSO), Law and Justice Division, Ministry of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs, discussed the government's legal aid support services.
Nobonita Chowdhury, director, Gender Justice and Diversity program, BRAC, discussed the initiatives which can be adopted to ensure women and child-friendly court environment and gender sensitivity practices by the personnel associated with the prosecution system.
The discussion was moderated by Masuma Billah, program head, Gender Justice and Diversity program, BRAC.
Access to justice is a scarce reality for most survivors of violence against women and girls (VAWG) in our country, due to a number of social and institutional barriers. A vast majority of gender-based violence survivors are unable to seek justice for the crime committed against them. Even if they are able to file cases, investigations are delayed, trials are prolonged, and ultimately there are very few convictions, said the press release.
