Rape, abuse in edu institutes gone on for too long: MJF

While incidents of child sexual abuse are on the rise in educational institutions, there is very little discussion at the national level on this unfortunate issue, speakers observed at a webinar yesterday.

They said child sexual abuse is on the rise mainly due to the lack of surveillance and accountability in educational institutions, especially in qawmi madrasas.

Although attempts had been made to conceal the incidents of rape and sexual harassment in qawmi madrasas and other educational institutions for so long, the incidents have come to the fore recently, they said.

Organised by Manusher Jonno Foundation (MJF), the webinar titled "What to do to stop child abuse/sexual exploitation in education institution" was moderated by MJF Executive Director Shaheen Anam.

In her speech, Shaheen Anam said, "The issue of sexual harassment in educational institutions should be brought under the culture of accountability. Parents send their children to educational institutions in good faith. It is a matter of great concern for them if children are being abused there."

MJF Violence Against Women coordinator Arpita Das presented a keynote at the webinar. According to data from nine national dailies from January to March this year, a total of 20 students have been raped and faced sexual harassment in the educational institutions, Arpita said.

In addition, 21 children in madrasas and safe homes have been tortured during this period, she added. Although schools are shut due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the madrasas were open.

Ain O Salish Kendra (ASK) lawyer advocate Abdus Rashid said, "Currently, the incidents of male children rape, which is regarded as 'unnatural offenses' mentioned in section 377 of the Penal Code 1860, are dealt with through magistrates' courts, and are taken very lightly."

Advocate Rashid also stressed the inclusion of rape of male children in the Women and Children repression Act 2000 for ensuring justice for them.

Professor Riyad Chowdhury of the Madrasa Education Board said, "We have to take a holistic approach to stop sexual harassment and torture in general educational institutions and madrasas. Institutions need to provide counseling and adopt a zero-tolerance policy if such crimes are proved."

Speakers at the session also shed light on Qawmi Madrasas as one of the institutes where child sexual abuse takes place most frequently.

The speakers observed that since Qawmi Madrasas are not controlled by the Madrasa Education Board, it is unclear what is actually happening in these institutions, and how to stop the incidents of child abuse there.

Speaking at the programme, Dhaka University associate law prof Dr Shahnaz Huda said that religious authorities should now respond to the allegations against them, otherwise people's perception of them might change.

"There must be a committee for the students to complain," she added.

Stressing on the importance of changing the mindsets and morals of people, Ministry of Religion additional secretary M A Awal Hawlader said that to stop such abuse, awareness activities should be taken up at the field level.

Madrasa Education Board Prof Kamal Uddin said, "Many children from poor families come here to study because they get food and shelter in the madrasas, which is why it becomes easy to torture them since they have no platform to speak up," he added.