Law should incorporate preventive measures too

A law stating both preventive and punitive measures is required to check the recent rise in violence against women and children, speakers said at a discussion yesterday.

Citing incidents of molestation of children by family members and close relatives including father, grandfather, and uncles, senior police official Farida Yesmin said, "These are sadistic behaviours, and they cannot be prevented by punishment."

The deputy commissioner of the women support and investigation division at Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) made the observation during the discussion on the draft "Sexual Harassment and Repression Prevention Act, 2010".

Bangladesh Mahila Parishad (BMP) organised the discussion at the Jatiya Press Club.

Yesmin praised the correctional measures recommended in the proposed law, after Maksuda Akhter, director of central legal aid sub-committee of BMP, presented highlights of the draft.

"We need legal action against sexual harassment," said Ayesha Khanam, president of BMP, explaining the need for the proposed law.

However, the High Court issued a directive in 2009 ordering formation of anti-sexual harassment committees at all workplaces and educational institutions.

"If there is a law, a person has the option to even file a case, besides making complaints to the anti-sexual harassment committee," she said.

Dr Bilkis Begum, coordinator of the One-Stop Crisis Centre of Dhaka Medical College Hospital, stressed the need for creating awareness about sexual harassment by enacting this law.

"Adolescent boys often tend to think of sexual harassment as a game because they do not even know what constitutes the crime," she said.

The proposed legislation recommends creation of anti-sexual harassment committees at all administrative levels, which will carry out social movement against the crime year-round.