| Lyna Mohamad |

ONE in every four outraging modesty cases in Brunei are committed by family members or close relatives, said DSP Hajah Mariyani binti Haji Abdul Wahab of the Women and Child Abuse Investigation Unit of the Royal Brunei Police Force (RBPF).

She also added that seven out of 10 victims of outraging modesty know their perpetrator.

Speaking on ‘Overcoming Barriers in Accessing Justice for Women and Girls’, she reiterated the importance of encouraging women and girls who are victims of any form of violence to seek police assistance.

She said in Brunei, 95 per cent of the victims of reported domestic violence cases are women, eight in 10 rape victims know their perpetrator while one in every three rape cases are committed by family members or close relatives.

DSP Hajah Mariyani made these comments at a Public Forum on Access to Justice for Women and Girls in Brunei Darussalam conducted by the Brunei Council on Social Welfare (MKM) at StarLodge in Kampong Jerudong on Friday.

DSP Hajah Mariyani believed that it is important for close friends and relatives whom the victim have sought help to report these cases so that action can be taken. She added that the main barriers in accessing justice is refusing to report the case because of fear of reprisal or losing support from the family as well as victim blaming.

About 50 participants from various non-government organisations (NGOs), Youth Associations, academe and government agencies attended the public forum.

Welcoming the participants, MKM President Mohd Yusof bin Halim reiterated the commitment of MKM to conduct capacity-building programmes and awareness-raising of issues that concerns vulnerable women and girls in the country.

He also thanked the Deputy Head of Mission of the Embassy of Sweden in Singapore and Brunei Darussalam Helena Reitberger for supporting the forum.