A.

Strengthening implementation of legal and policy frameworks and accountability

Issues Addressed in Draft Present Status of Bangladesh National Commitment

Presented by CSW Bureau
a) Ratify and fully implement the
Convention on the Elimination
of all Forms of Discrimination
against Women, withdraw all
reservations to the
Convention, and ratify or
accede to its Optional
Protocol; and include detailed
information on measures
taken to end violence against
women and girls in reports to
the Committee on the
Elimination of Discrimination
against Women so as to
increase accountability (based
on E/CN.6/2013/3para 59(a),
(c) and E/CN.6/2013/4
para.89(a),(c)).
1. No visible initiative has been
taken yet for withdrawal of
reservation, full ratification
and implementation of
CEDAW
2. Government still maintains
reservation on Optional
Protocol in the pretext of
reducing burden of reporting
or avoiding duplication of
reporting.
3. The government has taken
some initiatives including
enactment of Domestic
Violence (Prevention and
Protection) Act, 2010 and
implementing some projects
to end Violence Against
Women.
4. Some notable High Court
directives since 2009
addressed gender
discrimination, declaring
unconstitutional extra-
judicial punishments in the
name ‘fatwa’ (2010),
prohibiting forced veiling in
educational institutions and
workplaces (2010), framing
guidelines against sexual
harassment in public places
(2010).
needed
1. Concrete steps to
withdraw reservation on
Articles 2 and 16.1.c. and
Optional Protocol (Article
10.1)
2. Rules and regulations of
the Domestic Violence
(Prevention and
Protection) Act, 2010 need
to be formulated
immediately for ensuring
smooth implementation of
the law.
3. Need concrete measures
to implement the High
Court verdicts to combat
discriminatory practices of
polygamy, dowry, sexual
harassment, fatwa
instigated violence etc.

b) Adopt and accelerate the 1. Eight One-Stop Crisis 1. Immediately finalize

effective implementation of Centers (OCC) are National Action Plan to
comprehensive legal functioning in seven combat VAW in
frameworks that criminalize divisions and one district,
consultation with civil
violence against women and three Victim Support
society and women’s rights
girls; mandate protection and Centres and a National
support services and Helpline Centre have

1
 prevention measures; and
cover the prosecution and
punishment of perpetrators to
end impunity (E/CN.6/2013/4
para.59 (g)).
been established groups.
2. Establish counselling
2. The Government carried services and sufficient
out a national survey on
number of temporary
VAW 2011 although the
shelters for victims of
results are not yet out.
violence in all parts of the
3. Emergency call number of country.
police has been 3. There should be more
introduced to protect campaign and awareness
victims of VAW. raising program for more
usage of Government
resources regarding
prevention and protection
of victims of VAW

c) Implement multi-sectoral 1. MOWCA’s Multi-Sectoral 1. Need to ensure OCC

national action plans and
policies which include
measures for prevention,
services and responses, data
collection, research,
monitoring and evaluation; the
establishment of coordination
mechanisms; the allocation of 2. There
resources; and clear timelines
and benchmarks for results to
be achieved (E/CN.6/2013/3
para.59 (f) and E/CN.6/2013/4
para.89 (j)).
Program on Violence Against activities expanded at all
Women includes One-stop district level with easy
Crisis Centres (OCCs) in process to avail the
government hospitals. In the services.
third phase (2012-2016) the 2. Establish a Government
OCCs will be set up in 20 mechanism for
upazilas in 40 districts. developing a
is lack of a comprehensive and
comprehensive official data uniform database on
base on VAW VAW from district level to
national level.

d) Strengthen bilateral, sub- 1. Human Trafficking Prevention 1. Implementing and law

regional, regional and and Control Act, 2012 enforcing agencies &
international cooperation adopted by Parliament to public prosecutors should
mechanisms and initiatives, be made aware and
address all forms of
including information knowledgeable about the
trafficking (sexual
exchanges on best practices, of new law.
governments and exploitation, child labor, 2. Rules of Human Trafficking
intergovernmental and non- bonded labor, organ trade, Deterrence & Suppression
governmental organizations, etc). Act 2012 are not finalized.
to address the transnational 2. A new National Plan of Action 3. Initiatives should be taken
organised crime problem of 2012-14 on combating to finalize agreement with
trafficking in persons, all the destination

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 especially women and children Human Trafficking adopted. countries of RRRI
(based on A/RES/67/145, 3. Ministry of Home Affairs has Taskforce, ensure mutual
Trafficking in women and set up a separate website for legal assistance treaties
girls,PP26.) between country of origin
information on trafficking.
& country of destination,
ensue well-equipped
staff/labor attachés in the
destination countries,
increase number of safe
homes for the victims etc.
e) Strengthen governance and 1. National Women's 1. A National Action Plan on
coordination and oversight Advancement Policy (NWAP) NWAP is yet to be
mechanisms to ensure 2011 has been introduced finalized.
implementation, monitoring 2. The Sixth Five Year Plan 2. National Budgets should
and evaluation of laws, (SFYP)2011-15 has been be formulated and
national action plans and introduced in 2011, which implemented keeping the
policies (based incorporates specific gender SFYP targets and goals.
onE/CN.6/2013/3 para.59 (i) goals and targets under
and E/CN.6/2013/4 para.89 different sectors.
(k)).

f) Allocate dedicated and 1. Up to FY2012-13, 25 1. Implementation process of

sufficient resources for the full ministries have published gender budgeting should
implementation of laws, gender budgeting reports be monitored properly
national action plans and
policies to address violence 2. All ministries have been 2. All ministries should
against women and girls brought under the medium publish gender budget
including through the term budget framework reports.
expanded use of gender- process.
responsive budgeting (based 3. Impact analysis and
onE/CN.6/2013/3 para.59 monitoring of GRB should
(g)and E/CN.6/2013/4 para.89 be made regular including
(k)). sharing with civil society
and media.

g) Ensure that efforts to end
violence against women and
girls are a priority area in aid
allocation and development
cooperation.
Various GO-NGO projects are
underway with support from
different aid agencies and
development partners to redress
VAW
Need to monitor effective
implementation of the
projects including ensuring of
transparency and
accountability of fund

h) Encourage private sector Government has introduced 1. Need to hit the concept of

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 investment in programmes Public Private Partnership (PPP)
and strategies to prevent and to encourage more private
respond to violence against investment for social change
women and girls.
i) Institutionalize mandatory and
ongoing capacity building for
public officials working in the
areas of education, health,
social welfare, justice and
immigration, as well as the
judiciary, police and military,
to adequately address violence
against women and girls in a
gender-sensitive manner; and
put in place accountability
mechanisms to ensure
compliance of public officials
with laws and regulations
(based onE/CN.6/2013/4
para.89 (p)).
j) Enhance consultation and
participation among all
stakeholders in all efforts to
address violence against
women and girls, especially
with survivors of violence and
their organizations, so that
their knowledge and
experience can fully inform
policies and programs (based
onE/CN.6/2013/3 para.52).
There are some trainings or
capacity building programs for
police, health workers, teachers
etc.
Government occasionally invites
consultation with regard to
formulating or amendment of
laws and policies.
Corporate Social
Responsibility (CSR) to
attract more investment.
2. PPP should not just be
seen in terms of
infrastructural
development, but it should
be considered as a vehicle
to positive social
transformation.
1. Gender awareness and
sensitization training
required for judiciary,
senior govt. officials,
military etc.
2. Need to ensure a
comprehensive strategy to
address violence against
women and girls and put in
place accountability
mechanisms to ensure
compliance of public
officials with laws and
regulations
Need to ensure regular and
effective participation and
consultation of all
stakeholders including
activists, researchers,
academicians, survivors,
lawyers etc.