Demilitarisation of hills must for providing support
Implementation of the Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) Peace Accord of 1997 and demilitarisation of the hills are required to ensure greater legal aid and support for survivors of violence against indigenous women, speakers said yesterday.
Concerted efforts of the government and non-government bodies providing legal aid in the hills would not be possible as long as the militarisation of the daily life of its citizens was not stopped, said Prof Mizanur Rahman, chairman, National Human Rights Commission (NHRC).
He said the accord's full implementation became indispensible to resolve any other dispute as pockets of unrest in the region would only increase incidents of violence against indigenous women.
“Durable peace can never be achieved through the use of force by state agencies,” he added at a “National level discussion on violence against indigenous women and their legal support in CHT”.
The programme, organised by Rangamati-based NGO Pugobel and funded by the Embassy of the Netherlands, was held in the capital's Cirdap auditorium in the morning.
Revamped in 2014, the organisation works in education and legal aid service areas through Brac and Bangladesh Legal Aid and Services Trust (BLAST) in the three hill districts with funds from the embassy through the Human Rights For CHT Indigenous Women project.
According to the data compiled by Pugobel from different newspapers between December 2014 to October 27, 2015, 32 indigenous women in the hill tracts became victims of sexual harassment.
Out of them seven women were raped, seven gang raped, one was killed after rape, two were physically assaulted, 13 women became victims of attempted rape and two were sexually harassed.
Among the perpetrators, 30 were Bangalees, five indigenous, two law enforcing members and the identity of seven could not be known, said the concept paper of Pubogel read by Reta Chakma, training and advocacy officer of the organisation.
Ambassador Leoni Margaretha Cuelenaere emphasised the need for raising awareness among indigenous people to increase their access to legal aid.
Rangamati victims' support centre statics showed that 233 women took the government service between 2014 to November 25, 2015 and out of them only 31 were indigenous women.
Pugobel placed a number of recommendations including establishment of victim support centres in Khagrachhari and Bandarban, forensic departments in all three hill districts, victim and witness protection mechanisms and quick disposal of cases.
Comments