Since I arrived in Bangladesh in October 2019, the issue of sexual and gender-based violence against women and girls has been regularly visible in the public debate.
Incidents reported on media and social media repeatedly sparked public outcry, accompanied by calls for improved access to justice for victims and a more consistent enforcement of existing laws.
In Cox’s Bazar camps, where the protracted humanitarian crisis is still affecting communities from Rakhine and host communities, organizations including the ICRC strive to provide support to survivors of sexual violence and other forms of gender-based violence under difficult conditions that often hamper access to the most vulnerable.
Last year, Covid-19 movement restrictions represented an additional challenge for survivors to reach out for help, at a time when cases of domestic and intimate-partner violence reportedly spiked throughout Bangladesh, in line with a concerning global trend.
Sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) is one of the most prevalent human rights violations worldwide. It has grave consequences for victims, their families, and their communities. It is also one of the most under-reported due to the stigma attached to it, fear of retaliation, and poor trust in reporting mechanisms. For this reason, data collected by service providers, police, or reported by the media are not representative of the scope of the problem, they are only the tip of the iceberg.
Women and girls are the main targets of such violence. Despite efforts of governmental and non-governmental organizations, detecting violence and providing life-saving services is not always possible. Women and girls who experience violence in the household are taught to endure it, and despite campaigns and awareness-raising efforts, seeking support from specialized service providers seems not to be an option for many of them.
Women and girls living in rural areas are among those facing the largest difficulties in accessing support. Structural barriers exist in families, communities and in institutions, in urban and rural areas. Deaths resulting from SGBV are tragically common.
In Bangladesh, according to data from the government’s One Stop Crisis Centre, between 2001 and July 2020, only 3.56% of cases filed under the Prevention of Oppression Against Women and Children Act 2000 have resulted in a court judgment, and only 0.37% of cases have resulted in convictions.
Raising awareness among law enforcement agencies and keeping the needs of victims at the centre is essential to effectively receive and investigate cases, and simultaneously protecting the victims of these crimes. Addressing stigma and victim-blaming attitudes should be a priority for authorities, service providers, and communities.
Improving the situation for survivors and their access to services and justice requires addressing the root causes of SGBV. Everywhere in the world, if SGBV takes place, it is also because it is still considered acceptable by some. If victims are afraid of retaliation and of being stigmatized by their own communities, it is because a part of the society is blaming them for what happened, when those to blame are the perpetrators.
All victims of SGBV should be granted non-discriminatory access to support services, no matter their gender, age, or ethnic belonging. These need to be delivered respectfully, confidentially and in all safety. Services should cover the health needs of victims, as well as the psychological, livelihood, safety and legal support, regardless of the backgrounds and the circumstances of the incident.
Informing the public about the importance of accessing services within 72 hours after an incident of sexual violence has taken place is also crucial, as some support can only be effective within this timeframe.
The government and service providers should strive to ensure that barriers hampering safe access to services for all victims of SGBV are eliminated. Authorities and institutions have to also ensure that high-quality services are in place to support survivors, and to facilitate their access to justice.
Sexual and gender-based violence is never justified. It is always harmful, and it must be addressed. Today, and every day.
Lavinia Spennati is Addressing Sexual Violence Operations Manager, ICRC Bangladesh.
