20 children were killed, 30 raped every month in 2016
Says BSAF report
The violence against children remains far from being “normal” as an average of 20 children were killed and over 30 were reportedly raped every month in 2016, said a report.
Monitoring 10 newspapers, Bangladesh Shishu Adhikar Forum (BSAF) prepared the report titled “State of Child Rights in Bangladesh 2016”, which was published at a press conference at Dhaka Reporters' Unity yesterday.
Out of 265 children killed in 2016, 64 children were murdered by their own parents.
Expressing concern over the child killings by parents, National Human Rights Commission Chairman (NHRC) Kazi Reazul Hoque blamed the social unrest, a lack of family bonding and crisis between the parents for the incidents.
Talking about the government's role, the speakers criticised the proposed Child Marriage Prevention Act 2016, saying that it would encourage the culprits to sexually abuse the children.
BSAF requested the government to form an independent child rights commission to address the issues.
It also recommended ensuring quick execution of law, providing financial assistance to the poor to run cases in the court, monitoring the educational institutions, and allocating more budgets to protect child rights.