"October 2020"--Table of contents page. Includes bibliographical references.
Contents:
Summary -- Poor enforcement of laws -- Violence against women and girls during the Covid-19 pandemic -- Failure in accountability -- Acid violence in Bangladesh -- Institution barriers -- Key recommendations -- Methodology -- I. Government responses to violence against women and girls in Bangladesh -- Legal framework -- II. Social pressure not to report abuse -- III. Lack of services for survivors of gender-based violence -- Shortage of safe shelters -- One-stop crisis centers -- Victim support centers -- Lack of legal aid and services -- IV. How the Bangladesh justice system fails women -- Plice corruption and negligence, failures in investigation -- Failures in prosecution -- Lack of witness protection -- Delays in justice and case backlogs -- Lack of access to case information -- Failure to accommodate disabilities -- V. International law -- VI. Recommendations -- Acknowledgements.
Summary:
Women and girls in Bangladesh are facing increased domestic violence during the Covid-19 pandemic, highlighting long-term systemic barriers to legal recourse, protection, and social services. This crisis comes as Bangladesh marks the anniversaries of two landmark pieces of legislation on gender-based violence and enters the final phase of its national plan to build "a society without violence against women and children by 2025." Yet women and girls still face extreme levels of violence, and most survivors have little access to support or legal recourse. "I Sleep in My Own Deathbed" draws on 50 interviews to document the obstacles to realizing the government's goal of a society without violence against women and children. We interviewed 29 women from six of the eight divisions of Bangladesh who were survivors of gender-based violence, including acid attacks, as well as women's rights activists, lawyers, and academics to understand the deep and systemic barriers to legal recourse and protection that survivors face. The government has been particularly active in trying to tackle acid violence. But even in these cases, we found that justice remains elusive. Bangladesh authorities should provide accessible psychosocial services and safe shelter for women and girls seeking to escape or recover from violence. The government should ensure training for public prosecutors and police on standards of criminal investigations and prosecution, particularly in relation to survivors of gender-based violence, and hold accountable officials who mishandle these cases or mistreat survivors. The government should also provide comprehensive sexuality education to all children, emphasizing consent and gender equality, and conduct media outreach campaigns. Donors should support the government in improving transparency, timeliness, and accountability in the justice system, ensuring access to services, and implementing training and education initiatives.
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