Lack of adequate publicity, many people still do not know about the services provided by the city’s lone Victim Support Centre (VSC) while the concerned people have called for launching vigorous campaign for making the centre more effective.
According to Sexual Harassment Elimination Network Chittagong, a total of 653 women have become victims of different forms of torture in the city from January to August this year.
Besides, a total of 395 cases were filed with three women and children repression prevention tribunals of Chittagong for repression and torture on women.
The victim support centre which is now housed on the city’s Double Mooring Model police station premises, provides services to domestic violence, sexual abuse and rape victims.
The services include legal aid, healthcare, counseling, food and clothing, recreation and indoor games and rehabilitation.
The centre also provides accommodation and dining to victims free of cost. In some particular cases, a victim could stay at the centre from 7 to 11 days.
Sugata Barua, general secretary of Bangladesh Mahila Parishad, Chittagong unit, said: “Many people still do not know about the services provided by the centre. Law enforcers should explore new media for conducting campaign in remote areas. Vigorous publicity should be conducted in apparel factories and educational institutes.”
“The centre was launched only about two years ago. Therefore it will naturally take time to let people know about the services provided by the centre. Awareness-raising campaign should be conducted through different means like putting up billboards at strategic points of the city. The budgetary allocation and logistic support required for the centre should also be increased to ensure better service,” said Mahbub-ul-Alam, project coordinator of Aparajeyo Bangladesh, Chittagong chapter.
“The publicity of the centre is not sufficient as it is expected. The campaign for the centre should be conducted in densely populated and remote areas since many people still are unaware of the services provided by the centre. The mass media of the country can play a pivotal role in this respect,” said Tahmina Khatun, deputy director (legal aid) of Bangladesh National Women Lawyers’ Association.
AKM Shahidur Rahman, additional commissioner (administration, finance and traffic) of Chittagong Metropolitan Police said they were holding roundtable meeting, seminars, workshops and community consultation for raising awareness among the people.
Sometimes we have to face difficulty providing services to the victims since there are only two such centres in 11 districts under Chittagong division,” said Mahmuda Begum, CMP senior assistant commissioner (traffic west) and in-charge of the Victim Support Centre.
To a question, Mahmuda said that they were launching campaign involving public representative particularly the councilors of city corporations.
