Female magistrates to record testimonies of sexual assault victims

The Supreme Court today issued a circular asking chief judicial magistrates and chief metropolitan magistrates to send rape or other sexual assault victim children and women to female magistrates to record their testimonies, reports BSS.

“Special Committee for Judicial Reforms has learned that in many cases, testimonies of rape or other sexual assault victim children and women are being recorded by male magistrates. Women or children rape or other sexual assault victims hesitate to narrate their ordeal to a male magistrate,” the circular signed by Supreme Court Registrar General Dr Md Zakir Hossain said.

The circular further said to tackle such situation, a female magistrate is essential to record the testimony of rape or other sexual assault victim children or woman, so that they can narrate the sufferings they have been through easily and without hesitation.

The circular also added that in absence of any female magistrate, the responsibility can be given to any other qualified magistrate.