'Implement law to end domestic violence'

23 August 2011, 18:00 PM

Staff Correspondent

The Members of Parliament (MPs) and rights activists yesterday called for implementing the existing law to end widespread domestic violence against women in the country. Although a law styled Domestic Violence (Prevention and Protection) Act 2010 was formulated, rules required to enforce it have not been in place yet, they said. It is one of the impediments in implementing the act effective since 2010, they added, also emphasising awareness programme to end repression of women. "We, the MPs, can create social awareness among women as well as men in our society", said Meher Afroz Chumki, chairman of the parliamentary standing committee on the women and children affairs ministry. MA Mannan, senior research fellow of the Bangladesh Institute of Development Studies (BIDS), said at least 4,410 women were subjected to physical violence during 2003-2008. But 66 percent of the violence incidents were not reported while rural people take the incidents for granted, he added. The MPs and rights activists were speaking at a seminar on "The role of parliament in preventing and responding to domestic violence" organised by Promoting Democratic Institutions and Practices (Prodip), a project of the Asia Foundation, at Ruposhi Bangla Hotel in the city yesterday. Dr Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury, state minister for women and children affairs, attended the seminar as the chief guest with Shagufta Yasmin, a ruling party whip of the parliament, in the chair. Advocate Salma Ali, executive director of Bangladesh National Woman Lawyers' Association (BNWLA), among others, addressed the programme.