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Latifur Rahman: A legacy of integrity Nupur Sharma should apologise to nation for Prophet remarks: India's Supreme Court 3 more Bangladeshi hajj pilgrims die in Saudi Arabia Faraaz’s message to the world Floods in Lalmonirhat, Kurigram: Crops worth Tk 134cr damaged Current situation in India "a cause for fear", Amartya Sen says New Zealand declares US far-right group Proud Boys "terrorist organization" 2 killed in separate road accidents in Dhaka Tigers fine after distressing experience in the Atlantic Nearly 18 dead in Russian missile attack on residential buildings in Ukraine 6 years of Holey Artisan café attack: Neo JMB on the wane, some groups active online Tribute by Mahfuz Anam: A fighter for independent journalism Sale of advance train tickets for Eid-ul-Azha begins "We're not Hindu": Tribal communities from 5 Indian states want religion recognised GP says SIM ban unexpected
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Editorial
Editorial

Security for victims and witnesses must be ensured

Pass the Witness Protection Bill now!
Mon Dec 10, 2018 12:00 AM Last update on: Mon Dec 10, 2018 12:00 AM

It is extremely disappointing that an important Bill drafted in 2006 has been sitting in the freezer for 12 years now. Speakers at a conference highlighted this and asked the government to make into law the Witness Protection Bill which aims to ensure the security of victims and witnesses of crimes. We reiterate this and call on the state to put special focus on guaranteeing the security of rape victims, their families and witnesses, who are especially vulnerable to being harassed and intimidated into silence.

Such harassment has been revealed to have taken place on numerous occasions through media reports, many a times, without the authorities taking any action against the harassers who, let us not forget, were at the time under investigation for committing the severest of crimes. This shameful practice is especially prevalent when the accused is connected to powerful groups or sections of society—further increasing the power imbalance between the accused and the accuser, which ultimately makes it even more difficult for justice to prevail.

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Consequently, it should not be forgotten that harassing victims and witnesses in itself is a crime—witness tampering—aimed to cover up another. Given that a number of issues already discourage victims of rape in our country to make public the severe injury that was done to them, it is vital that the authorities take meaningful steps to stop them or their family members and witnesses from being harassed, intimidated and, essentially, prevented from seeking justice.

The concerned authorities should immediately pass the Bill into law and ensure that strong mechanisms are in place to uphold it.

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