How Legal Change Happened through Effective Policy Advocacy in Bangladesh: Adoption of the Domestic Violence Law

ABSTRACT

Violence of different types against women is widespread in Bangladesh with domestic violence being one of the most prevalent. Despite laws, policies, and constitutional guarantees for equal rights for women, there is considerable divergence between legal provisions that exist in theory and what happens in reality. Prior to the enactment of the Domestic Violence (Prevention and Protection) Act in 2010, the legal framework failed to provide any effective remedy for victims of domestic violence. In light of the major shortcomings of the earlier legal framework, civil society and women’s rights organizations were engaged in advocacy efforts and demanded separate legislation to combat domestic violence. My organization, Bangladesh National Women Lawyer’s Association (BNWLA), was one of the leading ones in this advocacy effort, as we had firsthand experience in providing legal aid to women and children who were subjected to violence. I have been actively involved in this process and, in this paper, I share my experiences of this successful advocacy effort.

KEYWORDS:

• Domestic violence
• legal framework of Bangladesh
• networking and campaign
• policy advocacy

Notes on contributor

Mitali JAHAN is a lawyer of the High Court division of Bangladesh Supreme Court. She is currently working as a Project Manager of Bangladesh National Women Lawyer’s Association (BNWLA) and has more than ten years of experience in dealing with issues of violence prevention, protection, law enforcement, policy/law reforms and changing practices. She had delivered technical assistance to the government for drafting and amending several laws and policies i.e. Domestic Violence Prevention and Protection Act 2010, the Rules of Procedure for the implementation of that Act, Drafting the rules of Children Act, 2013 and the Anti-Sexual Harassment Law, National Plan of Action on Violence against Women and Children. She had been involved in capacity building trainings for different stakeholders, including lawyers, judicial officials, members of law enforcement agencies, community members, local government representatives, and development partners. Mitali is a member of many different national & international rights based networks and forums. Email: [email protected]