40 dist hospitals to get crisis centres
The government will set up one-stop crisis centres (OCC) in 40 state-run district hospitals to render services to victims of violence, said Tariq-ul-Islam, acting secretary, women and children affairs ministry.
“We now have six OCC in six divisional medical college hospitals and we will set up 40 more OCC as soon as possible for the protection of the women victims," he said at a discussion at LGED Conference hall in the city yesterday.
The OCC provides services, including health care, police assistance, social services, legal assistance, psychological counseling, shelter service and legal medical examination with DNA test.
USAID, Bangladesh organised the discussion marking “International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women”.
The day was observed across the world on November 25 with the theme “From peace in the home to peace in the world: Let's challenge militarism and end violence against women”.
Tariq-ul-Islam said the Domestic Violence (Protection and Prevention) Act 2010, which was passed on October 5, will be fully implemented within this year.
The act needs proper implementation to not only protect women's rights but also human rights, said Alexious Butler, director of Democracy and Governance office of Usaid, Bangladesh.
Advocate Salma Ali, executive director of Bangladesh National Women Lawyer's Association, demanded implementation of anti-sexual harassment policy at educational institutions and work places, implementation of national women development policy and increase of shelter centers to ensure the victims' rights.
Plan Bangladesh Country Director Myrna Remata Novera, BNWLA Director Advocate Kohinoor Begum and Prof Nazmunnessa Mahtab of Department of Women and Gender in Dhaka University, also spoke, among others.
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