Govt determined to prevent violence against women

The government is dedicated in preventing domestic violence and violence against women, Law Minister Anisul Huq said yesterday.

He also emphasised on raising awareness among men and women on the Domestic Violence (Prevention and Protection) Act-2010 and Domestic Violence Prevention Policy-2013.

He made the remarks while inaugurating a workshop on “Role of government legal aid to prevent domestic violence”, jointly arranged by National Legal Aid Services Organization and Manusher Jonno Foundation (MJF) at the Judicial Administration Training Institute in Dhaka.

Huq said women are still deprived of their rights and justice.

“Violence against women will come down if victims of domestic violence become aware of the law and the perpetrators are brought to justice,” he said.

He said 1,85,286 women have so far received free legal aid by calling the 16430 helpline.

The minister said the government has brought legal aid facility to union level and urged NGOs to help victims of domestic violence get to government legal aid office for assistance.

 “We are trying to put an end to violence against women, through women's empowerment,” he said.

The workshop was presided over by National Legal Aid Services Organization Director Bikash Kumar Saha. JATI Director General Khandaker Musa Khaled, Law Secretary Abu Saleh Sheikh Mohammed Zahirul Haque and MJF Executive Director Shaheen Anam spoke at the event.