Children's fundamental rights must be ensured
Justice Md Abdul Wahhab Miah, who is performing functions of the chief justice, yesterday said fundamental rights of every child must be ensured.
“We must bear in mind that the children who are living on road having no families are our children too and they need urgent inspiration and utmost care. The conditions they live in and the threats they face should drive us to work for them with urgency. If we succeed in fulfilling their dreams, they will create a better world in the future,” he said.
Justice Wahhab was speaking at a programme organised on the occasion of extending the existing memorandum of understanding (MoU) between the Supreme Court and Unicef Bangladesh at the Judges' Lounge of the SC.
Edouard Beigbeder, Unicef Bangladesh representative, and Md Zakir Hossain, acting registrar general of the SC, signed the extension of the MoU on behalf of their respective sides.
Justice Wahhab said, “The predominant concept of juvenile justice system is to treat child as child in the court. It is a very simple idea, not treat them like an adult who committed crime. That means -- no person, no criminal record, no punishment for the children in conflict with law. The mandate of the Children Act 2013 is in commensurate with the same principle.”
He also said the act (children act) requires the atmosphere of the courtroom, seat plans, decorations and procedures of the children courts to be informal and child friendly.
Edouard Beigbeder said the Children Act 2013 is a great legal instrument to protect the rights of children.
“However, its success will mainly depend on effective implementation of the act, especially to strengthen access to justice for children,” he added.
Justice Muhammad Imman Ali, a judge of the Appellate Division of the SC and chairman of the Supreme Court Special Committee for Child Rights, and Justice Sheikh Hassan Arif, a judge of the High Court Division of the SC and member of the SC special committee, spoke, among others.
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