'Set up doorstep legal services, bring reforms to village court'

Law Minister Moudud Ahmed speaks at the national convention on 'Protest against Domestic Violence' at Biam auditorium in the city yesterday. On his left are Advocate Sigma Huda, Fouzia Karim Firoze and Barrister Francis Joychild. Bangladesh National Women's Lawyers' Association (BNWLA) organised the convention. PHOTO: STAR

They also suggested speeding up the activities of arbitration council that currently deals with divorce, polygamy and other issues concerning domestic violence.

Bangladesh National Women's Lawyers' Association (BNWLA) organised the national convention on 'Protest against Domestic Violence' at Biam auditorium in the city.

Delegates from Shakti Community Council, New Zealand, attended the convention with a view to helping formulate a legal framework to curb domestic violence.

Speaking as the chief guest, Law Minister Moudud Ahmed said a draft law regarding domestic violence, prepared by the law commission, is now under scrutiny.

Steps will be taken to hold a national dialogue on the draft law, he added.

Narrating how women are being tortured, Rahima Sultana Kajal, executive director of Avash, said, "It was a chilly winter night. Jomila (not her real name) was standing neck-deep in a water tank while her fellow wife kept vigil. Their husband frequently issue such sentences against them for their 'wrongdoings'."

Barrister Francis Joychild, advisor, Human Rights Commission, New Zealand, said there was a dichotomy between public and private spheres in defining domestic violence in his country 35 years ago. But after the enactment of a law regarding domestic violence in 1995, the country experienced a radical change.

"Now the scenario is completely changed, we were successful in sensitising the people to the issue."

Afroza Begum, a member of a BNWLA vigilance team in Thakurgaon, said they have succeeded a lot in curbing violence against women. "But the Hindu women in my district are doubly unsecured as they do not have the provision for marriage registration."

Shaheen Anam, executive director of Manusher Jonno Foundation, said, "I think we have achieved a remarkable progress in less than a decade that we have brought the issue into public domain and are trying to eliminate the crisis."

Fouzia Karim Firoze, immediate past president of BNWLA, delivered the keynote speech.

Shila Nayar, Dilki Rajapakshe, Farida Sulatna of Shakti Community Council, Advocate Salma Ali of BNWLA, Dr Carren Allen Spano, chief technical advisor, MSP, VAW, and Khandaker Mahbubuddin Ahmed MP also spoke at the convention moderated by Advocate Sigma Huda, special chair of UN on human trafficking and president of BNWLA.