OCCs give services to 23,000 women, children in 14 yrs

More than 23,000 women and children have taken services from the One-Stop Crisis Centers (OCCs) across the country during the last 14 years.

Some 5,149 cases were filed on behalf of the victims' people, 884 cases were settled, and 109 convicted got punishment.

These were disclosed on Thursday at a meeting on ensuring justice to the victim women and children at Shishu Academy in the capital.

Meher Afroz Chumki, state minister for women and children affairs, was the chief guest of the programme.     

Representatives from home affairs ministry, police headquarter, Criminal Investigation Department (CID), Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), victim support centre, one-stop crisis centre, National Forensic DNA Profiling Laboratory, Bangladesh National Woman Lawyers' Association (BNWLA), and Ain o Salish Kendra (ASK), among others, were present.     

In the meeting Abul Hossain, project director of Multi-Sectoral Programme on Violence against Women, said between August 2001 and June 2015 some 23,034 victims received services from the OCCs.

He also said the victims are often discouraged to file cases, as they are worried about their family security and absence of necessary witnesses.

Meher Afroz Chumki said for ensuring punishment, some sensational cases will be monitored by her ministry. The development of the cases will be reported by the departments concerned in every three months.

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