#37DaysofInjustice

January to March 2015* - 
Rape cases mentioned in the media: 123 
Cases filed: 72 

A profound sense of uncertainty surrounds most cases of sexual harassment or rape. The distinct gap between the number of cases that occur and those reported is a tell-tale sign of a failing justice system and unresponsive law enforcement. 

In the middle of the blame games, protests and brutality, the question that never has an answer is: When will justice be found? 

It has been over a month since the Pahela Baishakh incident, and the response from the law enforcement authorities have been one and the same: denial and silence. When forced to acknowledge it, authorities regarded it to be "not a big deal." 

Protests have erupted at campuses and social media over the negligence and uncooperative attitude of the authorities. The most recent of these protests – organised by the Bangladesh Chhatra Union on May 10 – took a violent turn when the police tried to disperse the crowd of protesters outside the Dhaka Metropolitan Police headquarters. What became more alarming than the questionable brute force used against the protestors was the appalling manhandling of a female protestor by the police [caught on camera]. 

The protesters, public and media have repeated time and again that if the police had shown the same manner of force and urgency in the face of the harassment incidents, perhaps the violent turn of events could have been avoided. However, the inactivity of law enforcement authorities regarding cases of sexual assault is an attitude rooted in a history of negligence and unimplemented laws.  

Bangladesh classifies rape and many other sexual offences under the category of women and child repression. It's most recent milestone was the Supreme Court's ruling of killing after rape being a crime punishable by death or life term. Stalking of girls and women had previously been declared illegal by the High Court and it is considered a basic necessity under the constitution for all educational institutions and workplaces to establish a zero-tolerance policy against sexual harassment.

But are these laws being implemented efficiently? 
The culture of fear and stigma that haunts assault victims is more prevalent and practiced than the laws that were made to protect them. The authorities' reluctance to address the reality of the recent harassment incidents echo why cases go unreported and victims choose silence over justice. Laws are only as effective as those in the position of practicing them make them to be.

*Ain-o-Salish Kendra documentation.