Only quick justice can end violence against women, children: Experts

The culture of impunity, lack of rule of law, moral degradation and vulnerabilities of women and children in society are among the main reasons behind the recent spate of child killing and rape, experts say. They think incidents like brutal killings of children and rape will come down to the zero level if the perpetrators can promptly be identified, tracked down and brought to justice. They, however, said killing the offenders in ‘crossfire’ cannot be a justified action to contain the crimes as it may turn boomerang and the innocent people can be victimised. “Children might have been killed earlier in our society, but the way children are being killed and tortured now is far more brutal… it was never there in our society. The incidents are so unexpected, despicable and distasteful make us deeply worried,” Chairman of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) Dr Mizanur Rahman has said. He said the perpetrators having political clouts and muscle power and who have financial solvency are successful in dodging the law, the experts observed. They said women and children are repeatedly fall victims to attack as they are the most vulnerable in our society. The children who have recently been subjected to brutality were from poor families. About extrajudicial killings, they said it would be wrong to believe that executing offenders without trial is an effective action to prevent such incidents. “Killing criminals in gunfight is not acceptable in a civilised society. Law enforcers’ duty is to hunt down the criminals and bring them to justice, instead of trying and killing them.” Contacted, Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal said the incidents of child murder and rape are social problems and only penal measures will not be enough to prevent it. “Law enforcement agencies alone cannot prevent such incidents. Social awareness is needed to contain it,” he noted.
Director of Bangladesh Shishu Adhikar Forum (BSAF) Abdus Shahid Mahmood said 191 children were killed and 280 raped during the January-July period this year. Besides, he said, 37 children were killed and 50 raped in July alone. Mahjabeen Haque, an Associate Professor of Dhaka University’s Department of Educational and Counselling Psychology, said the main reasons behind the surge in child killing and rape incidents are lack of moral learning of children, the rule of law, consistent action against the offenders and the culture of impunity, according to a news agency.
- biplab