Last year, Seema (not her real name), a resident of Bidirpur of Rajshahi, was allegedly raped by one of her neighbours. When her family was trying to file a case, the neighbour’s family tried persuasion, and even threats, to prevent them. With the mediation of a local political leader, Seema’s family finally decided against filing the case.
As a result, the neigbour boy tried to violate Seema once again after three months. A wailing Seema told the Dhaka Tribune: “If my family did not compromise with my faith, that [the second rape attempt] would have never happened.”
Rashida (not her real name either) is a physically challenged girl in her early teens. Her mother has found out recently that one of Rashida’s 19-year-old male cousins had been sexually harassing her for quite some time. To avoid the situation, she was sent to her grandparents’ home, but one of her uncles started “misbehaving” with her.
In both these cases, the families decided not to stir up matters, considering that it might tarnish their family image.
At a time when sexual harassment allegations even with concrete proofs fail to bring the criminals to book, it is very natural for many such “family matters” to remain unreported, let alone taken to the courts.
A recent research shows that half of all the physically and mentally challenged children in Bangladesh are sexually abused, mostly by close relatives.
The study, conducted jointly by Bangladesh Protibondhi Foundation (BPF) and Save the Children Sweden-Denmark, also stated that the psychologically challenged run a greater risks of being sexually harassed.
According to the National Child Task Force, 51% of street children are being scolded and victimised. At least, 20% of the children endure physical torture and 46% girls are victims of sexual abuse and torture. Existing laws related to sexual crimes against children focus on punishing the offender rather than protecting children’s rights.
Rights activists say in most cases, abusers put pressure on the abused and their families to withdraw cases or compromise. As there is no witness protection mechanism, ensuring justice is also very difficult.
According to a report by the Child Rights Governance Assembly, generally camera trials are not in use, although the provision is there. As a result, many victims do not want to come out in the open at the court, and get more ferocious when they are attacked the second time.
Rights activist Khushi Kabir said: “Because of the lengthy trial processes in our country, survivors do not get quick remedies. Sometimes the victims’ families refrain from filing cases because of pressure from the abusers, influential people or to save their faces. These add to the risk of getting violated the second time. So, no matter what the situation is, a victim’s family should always file a case and seek justice.”
Advocate Fahima Nasreen told the Dhaka Tribune: “We have some technical problems with the implementation of existing laws... Recently, we have been using the umbrella term for all abuses including what is known as ‘eve teasing.’ But most of the law enforcement agencies, who are the primary destination of a case, do not know this. Neither do they want to ensure protection for the survivors.”
She also said: “We need to change our perception about security and social gracefulness. My child is violated several times and as long as I try to hide it, the situation will not change. The members of the law enforcement agencies also need to be trained to prevent multiple incidence of abuses.”
