Govt strengthens legal safeguards against child abuse, expands survivor support
He said initiatives are underway to enact the Sexual Harassment Prevention in Workplaces and Educational Institutions Act, 2026 to prevent sexual harassment and ensure safety in workplaces and educational institutions.
Women and Children Affairs Minister Dr AZM Zahid Hossain today (29 June) said the government has been implementing various laws, policies, service centres and support programmes through the ministry of women and children affairs to prevent child abuse and rape.
He said this while replying to a written question by treasury bench member Md Mostafizur Rahman Babul of Jamalpur-3 in the Jatiya Sangsad.
The minister said the government has formulated and implemented the National Women Development Policy-2011, the Women and Children Repression Prevention Act, 2026, the Deoxyribonucleic Acid (DNA) Act, 2014 and its Rules-2017, the Child Marriage Restraint Act and Rules-2018, and the National Action Plan to Prevent Child Marriage (2018-2030) to ensure the protection of women and children.
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He said initiatives are underway to enact the Sexual Harassment Prevention in Workplaces and Educational Institutions Act, 2026 to prevent sexual harassment and ensure safety in workplaces and educational institutions.
At the same time, steps have been taken to replace the Domestic Violence (Prevention and Protection) Act, 2010 with the proposed Domestic Violence Prevention Act, 2026.
The minister informed the House that the Women and Children Repression Prevention Act, 2026 was passed during the first session of the current parliament, and cases relating to child rape and abuse will be tried under the new law.
He said DNA testing has been made mandatory under the DNA Act, 2014, regardless of whether the accused or the victim gives consent. He also noted that amendments made in 2025 introduced provisions to expedite the investigation and trial of rape cases.
The minister said the government plans to establish 37 One-Stop Crisis Centres (OCCs) in phases at government medical college hospitals to provide integrated services to women and children subjected to violence.
At present, 14 OCCs are providing medical treatment, legal aid, police assistance, psychosocial counselling, rehabilitation, social reintegration and income-generating training. So far, 82,678 survivors have received services from these centres.
He added that 95 One-Stop Crisis Cells established at district Sadar hospitals and upazila health complexes have so far provided various services to 170,523 women and child survivors of violence.
The minister also said the 24-hour toll-free National Helpline 109 has been operating to prevent violence against women and children. Through the helpline, assistance has so far been provided to 8,846,940 women and child survivors of violence.
