Inter-country collaboration to serve survivors of violence. (Services).

As a follow up to Bangladesh's commitment to implement the 1995 Beijing Platform for Action, the Ministry of Women and Children's Affairs convened an Inter-Ministerial Working Group in August 1996 to formulate the Multi-Sectoral Programme on Violence Against Women. It was called this as it aimed to mobilise different state agencies to more effectively prevent and redress violence against women. A final agreement was signed between the Bangladesh and Danish governments on 10 May 2000 and the project began its pilot phase in November the same year. The long-term strategy aims to integrate the handling of violence cases into the government health system and the police service. The programme is carried out in close collaboration with five ministries and a high-powered Steering Committee chaired by the Secretary from the lead ministry, the Ministry of Women and Children Affairs. The Committee guides on major issues related to the inter-ministerial coordination.

Newspapers carry horrific stories about a variety of violent crimes against women and children in Bangladesh. The cases are numerous and the punishment of perpetrators is limited as very few families and women have the strength, support or resources to go through a very lengthy and demanding trial. According to a report, Human Security in Bangladesh: In Search of Justice and Dignity, published this year by the United Nations Development Programme, a key finding revealed that despite constitutional and legislative guarantees, women in Bangladesh continue to be subject to violence, acid throwing, murder, rape and trafficking. The Multi-Sectoral Programme on Violence Against Women, through an integrated approach, deals with the acute need for care, medical treatment, legal support, safety, counselling and shelter. There are public awareness campaigns and various training activities for health professionals to acquire the skills needed for this new and experimental programme.

The whole set-up is based on the Malaysian model begun in 1994 but adjusted to local conditions. The Ministry officers and One-stop Crisis Centre (OCC) staff undertook study tours to Malaysia to study the well-established programme countrywide. The Malaysian model is far ahead in terms of facilities, staffing, equipment and resources. It has progressed further than the one in Bangladesh as it has: a strong operational mechanism between involved ministries and NGOs; a strong linkage to the media; higher awareness and commitment of the authorities and availability of equipment, facilities, human and economic resources; massive integrated ongoing training at local and international levels; and years of substantial public education. However, it is a fact that the Malaysian model has operated for years whereas the one in Bangladesh is just beginning to take root. The Bangladeshi model has completed the deputation of a multi-disciplinary team (doctors, nurses, police officials and social workers). Also, the two OCC Centres, one at Dhaka Medical College Hospital and the other at Rajshahi, are in operation. The two centres provide all the documentation and services needed for the women and children in one place. The centres are open 24 hours like in Malaysia and referrals are made to NGOs with shelters. At present, 145 cases had been serviced in the Dhaka OCC but only 59 had filed a case in the courts. The reasons for that fairly low figure will be the main focus of the programme in future, as we believe this can be changed by consistently providing good service and aid to the women survivors of violence and encouraging them to report.

An increasing number of rape cases are reported but few perpetrators are punished. Thus, a very important programme component is the upgrading of the forensic laboratory services at Dhaka Medical College Hospital with special focus on DNA profiling. The establishment of a DNA laboratory service will improve the presenting of adequate evidence in court and as such increase the punishment of the criminals. Such profiling is totally new in Bangladesh, whereas Malaysia already has years of experience in forensic services and DNA profiling. The pilot phase of the Multi-Sectoral Programme on Violence against Women aims to demonstrate the need for intensive and ongoing support for survivors of violence against women. During the pilot phase it is vital to motivate and encourage more women to seek help and speak out about the problem and then hopefully ensure the continuation of this very valid and needed programme.

The programme could not have progressed this far without receiving the ongoing help and support from Malaysia, from Dr. Abu Hasan Asaad Abdullah (Consultant Traumatologist and Head of the Department of Emergency, Kuala Lumpur Hospital), the Ministry of Health and the Women's Aid Organisation, that organised the study tours and facilitated initial training in Dhaka. It is a good example of how countries can collaborate on violence against women by sharing information on their best practices.

Suss Schaumann, Chief Technical Advisor, MSP-VAW, Project Implementation Unit, Department of Women's Affairs, 37/3 Eskaton, Garden Road, Dhaka 1000 Bangladesh. E-mail: <[e-mail]>.