Dhaka: The Rape Law Reform Coalition, a collective of human rights advocates, has emphasized the need for thorough discussions with all stakeholders, including experts, before the formulation of laws addressing rape and torture. This call was made during a discussion titled ‘Rape and Torture: What to Do for Legal Protection’, held at the Tofazzal Hossain Manik Mia Hall of the National Press Club.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, Retired Justice Krishna Debnath of the Appellate Division of the Bangladesh Supreme Court participated as a special guest, with Dhaka University’s Law Department Prof Dr. Shahnaz Huda presiding over the event. The discussion featured insights from Bangladesh National Women Lawyers’ Association (BNWLA) Adviser Advocate Salma Ali, Women’s Affairs Reform Commission member Dr. Maheen Sultan, and Bangladesh Legal Aid and Services Trust (BLAST) Legal Adviser SM Rezaul Karim, among others.
Justice Krishna Debnath highlighted the need for consistent definitions of crimes, irrespective of the victim’s age, and called for addressing the issue of false cases and technicalities that prevent prosecutions. He urged for focus on ensuring justice through punishments rather than merely intensifying them. He stressed the importance of societal awareness alongside amending related laws, emphasizing the role of society in educating the younger generation about social ills.
Professor Shahnaz Huda stressed the necessity of reforming the existing Bangladesh Women and Children Repression Prevention Act. She pointed out the need for future governments to ensure women’s social safety to prevent crimes like child marriage and violence against women. Huda also highlighted the absence of definitions for terms like ‘pedophile’ in current laws, advocating for detailed discussions to incorporate such issues in legal reforms.
Advocate Salma Ali emphasized the importance of consulting long-term stakeholders while enacting laws. She highlighted the need for service organizations to improve, and for prosecutors, police, judicial officers, and media personnel to better understand the treatment of rape victims and their families. Ali called for stopping pornography, ensuring transparent trials, grassroots monitoring, and training for relevant professionals to ensure judicial progress and swift punishment implementation.
Dr. Maheen Sultan from the Women’s Affairs Reform Commission expressed optimism about recent government actions addressing these issues. She underscored the importance of crafting laws that ensure long-term justice and advocated for comprehensive stakeholder discussions before finalizing any legal framework.
The event began with Bangladesh Supreme Court lawyer and BLAST legal specialist Advocate Ayesha Akhter, along with BLAST senior research officer Fahad Bin Siddique, presenting recommendations on the draft of ‘The Women and Children Repression Prevention (Amendment) Ordinance’. The discussion saw participation from members of various human rights and legal aid organizations, NGOs, teachers, students, lawyers, and researchers from several universities.