Programme to prevent violence against women, children taken

The government has taken a multi-sectoral programme to prevent violence and repression against women and children, reports BSS. The programme mainly intends to reduce violence and repression against women and children through a comprehensive coordination among different ministries and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) as well as strengthening the service delivery system, said an official of the planning ministry. The other objectives of the programme are to provide quality and sustainable services, increase mass awareness to protect women against violence, enhance the institutional capacity of women and children affairs ministry for taking women-repression related activities and formulation of National Action Plan on Violence Against Women. The ministries of women and children affairs, health and family welfare, home and social welfare will implement the multi-sectoral programme titled 'Prevention of Repression Against Women (3rd phase)' involving Tk 440 million by 2016. Of the total cost, the government will provide Tk 240 million from its own fund while Tk 200 million will come from project assistance, the official said. The programme area includes seven divisional medical colleges, Faridpur Medical College, directorate of women affairs, 40 district hospitals, 20 upazila health complexes and strengthening the service providing activities. The main activities of the programme are to establish the one stop crisis centre (OCC), DNA screening laboratory and national forensic DNA profiling laboratory and national trauma counselling centre and project implementation unit. The other activities of the programme include establishment of 60 one stop crisis cells in 40 district hospitals and 20 upazila health complexes, strengthening the efficiency and management of the existing OCC, full-fledged use of the DNA laboratory and apply the document in the legal process, implementation of the national action plan, and organise seminars, workshops and training for increasing mass awareness. Sources said the government took a pilot project to protect women and children from violence in 2001 as per the recommendations of an international experts' meeting held in Dhaka in 1997.