The interim government has given policy approval for amendments to the Women and Child Repression Prevention Act, aiming to accelerate legal proceedings and ensure swift justice for victims, according to Forest and Environment Affairs Adviser Rizwana Hasan.
Speaking at a press briefing at the Foreign Service Academy on Bailey Road in the capital on Monday (17 March), she stated that the decision was taken during a special meeting presided over by Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus.
Last Wednesday (12 March), Law Adviser Asif Nazrul announced that a draft amendment to the Act had been prepared to halve the duration of investigation and trial in rape cases.
He shared this information with journalists following a meeting at the secretariat with leaders of an anti-rape platform.
Asif Nazrul further elaborated that consultations were held on Monday and Tuesday with relevant stakeholders.
"We have prepared a draft of the amended Women and Child Repression Prevention Act, and today we are circulating it among key stakeholders. Our objective is to make the law more stringent and ensure that rape trials are not only expedited but also conducted with absolute certainty and fairness," he said.
According to the proposed amendments, the investigation period for rape cases would be reduced from 30 days to 15 days, while the trial duration would be shortened from 180 days to 90 days.
Additionally, the draft legislation includes a provision allowing judges to proceed with trials and investigations based on medical certificates alone, without requiring DNA reports, if deemed necessary.
These legal reforms signal a significant shift in the government's approach to combating sexual violence, aiming to enhance judicial efficiency and ensure timely justice for victims.
