Women protesters, female AL members faced heightened sexual crimes during and after protests: UN

The UN said today (12 February) it had also documented cases of violent sexual crimes against women, both protesters and those who were part of the Awami League.

"One case of apparent revenge violence documented by OHCHR, and based on victim testimony, involved sexual violence. In August, a woman was intercepted by two men who appeared different from students based on their age and attire. They recognised her as being part of Chhatra League," the UN said in the OHCHR report.

"The men insulted her with comments of a sexual nature, grabbed her dress, slapped her face multiple times and punched her chest. A second, more severe attack a few days later against the same woman commenced in a similar manner. The attackers encircled her, ripped her clothes, groped her breasts and intimate parts, and ultimately raped her," the UN said in the report.

The UN added that subsequently, the victim was denied healthcare at a hospital due to her political affiliation.

In other cases, female Awami League and Chhatra League supporters received threats of rape verbally and on social media.

"The OHCHR considers it likely that substantially more cases of sexual violence occurred than OHCHR could document," the report added.

It said in the aftermath of the protests, some women who had held leadership positions or had visible profiles reported threats or feared reprisals, leading them to cover their faces and hair in an attempt to disguise their identities.

According to the OHCHR report, women protesters also faced similar forms of violence.

"Having been at the forefront of the early protests in particular, women and girls were also attacked by security forces and Awami League supporters. They were specifically subjected to sexual and gender-based violence, including gender-based physical violence, threats of rape and, in some documented cases, sexual assault perpetrated by Awami League supporters," the report mentioned.

"OHCHR also received reports of threats of rape and sexual violence committed as revenge violence. Given social and cultural sensitivities and the significant under-reporting of sexual and gender-based violence in Bangladesh, OHCHR believes that it was not able to document the full extent of sexual violence that was perpetrated and considers that further in-depth investigations are required to ascertain the full scope and impact of such acts and to provide the required support to victims," the report further said.