The Constant Fight Against Gender-Based Violence: Why Bangladesh Needs Smarter Laws, Not Just Harsher Punishments
The proposed amendments to the Women and Children Repression Prevention Act 2000 have sparked concerns among legal experts and women’s rights activists. As the interim government moves forward with legal reforms, experts warn against prioritising harsher punishments over structural improvements that ensure justice for survivors of gender-based violence (GBV).
At a recent event at the Jatiya Press Club, organised by the Bangladesh Legal Aid and Services Trust (BLAST), experts underscored the need for comprehensive legal reforms that go beyond retribution. They highlighted that stricter laws, including capital punishment, often result in lower conviction rates. Survivors face systemic barriers—delayed investigations, courtroom intimidation, and societal stigma—which prevent them from seeking justice.
Legal Reforms Must Address Structural Barriers
Maheen Sultan, a member of the Women’s Rights Reform Commission, called for a shift in how the legal system approaches rape cases. “Harsh punishments alone do not guarantee justice,” she noted. “Instead of rushing legal changes, we must ensure that every case leads to accountability through thorough investigations and fair trials.”
Advocate Salma Ali, president of the Bangladesh National Women Lawyers’ Association, echoed similar concerns. “We have seen cases where verdicts were delivered in just four days. The issue is not the absence of laws, but the efficiency and intent behind implementing them,” she said. She emphasised the need for better police training, judicial transparency, and media responsibility to protect survivors from further victimisation.
Legal Safeguards & Their Impact on SRHR
The proposed reforms are deeply connected to sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR). Gender-based violence, child marriage, and intimate partner violence not only violate women’s rights but also severely impact their reproductive health. A UNICEF report states that Bangladesh has one of the highest rates of child marriage in South Asia, with 51% of women marrying before 18. Legal reforms must address the socio-cultural norms that allow such practices to persist.
Professor Dr Shahnaaz Huda from Dhaka University pointed out a major gap in forensic support for rape survivors. “Despite the law requiring DNA reports, we only have one DNA testing lab in the entire country,” she said. This limitation severely hampers rape investigations and conviction rates, leaving perpetrators unpunished.
Way Forward: Justice Beyond Punishment
Legal experts at the event proposed several recommendations, including broadening the definition of rape to cover all genders, setting a specific age threshold for sexual consent, and ensuring survivors’ anonymity in media reports. Additionally, they called for a state-run compensation fund for victims of sexual violence.
Retired Supreme Court Justice Krishna Debnath stressed the importance of judicial integrity. “It’s not just about harsher punishments, but about ensuring impartial trials where survivors are heard and cases do not collapse under pressure.”
The push for legal reform in Bangladesh must be rooted in a commitment to justice, not political expediency. Addressing gender-based violence requires a system where survivors are empowered to speak out, legal institutions function efficiently, and societal attitudes towards consent and gender equality evolve.
Source: The Daily Star
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