New policy focuses on ultra poor children

Policy Highlights

* Under-14 children cannot be employed as fulltime workers
* Playground in all schools
* Day care centres in all jails
* Child-friendly health services in all hospitals
* Education in mother languages for ethnic minority children

The government has drafted a new child policy seeking to bring ultra poor children under the protection of its social safety net.
The National Child Policy 2010 defines individuals under the age of 18 as children, irrespective of their castes, religions, communities, and social status.
The new definition will render 45 percent of the country's total population as children, having a wide range of implications for child labour, social safety net, education, and health policies.
According to the draft, the government will appoint an ombudsman for children to ensure implementation of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC).
It aims to stop use of children in politics, rehabilitate ultra poor and homeless children, and gradually eradicate child labour.
A national level committee will be formed to ensure the rights, security, and development of mothers and children.
The government will finalise the policy by early next month, State Minister for Women and Children Affairs Shirin Sharmin Chowdhury told The Daily Star yesterday following a media briefing where she disclosed the draft.
The last child policy was announced in 1994 defining individuals under the age of 14 as children, but the new draft policy extends that age up to 18 years in line with the UN standard. People between the ages of 10 and 18 will be considered juveniles.
According to the draft, at least 2.65 crore children in the country live below the poverty line, with little or no means to meet their basic needs.
It says the government will start a united effort with non-government and charitable organisations to provide free health services and education to children.
Wahida Banu, chairman of Bangladesh Shishu Odhikar Forum, told The Daily Star yesterday, "The social protection net will help reduce the number of homeless children, who are vulnerable to exploitation on streets, and to becoming drug users, sellers, or muggers. We hope the social safety net will cover the children's basic demands and protect them."
The draft policy prohibits employment of children under 14 years of age as fulltime workers. Employers must allow domestic child workers to meet their parents at least once a month.
Issues of child autism, disabilities, homelessness, welfare during and after natural disasters, and sanitation in schools are also emphasised in the draft.
It says the government will produce audio visual presentations for children, to imbue them with the ideology and spirit of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, and the spirit of the war of independence and patriotism.
It reiterates the government's resolve to bring all newborns under birth registration programme, and to ensure ethnic minority children's right to education in their mother languages.
It promises increased participation of children in family and social affairs, and programmes for intellectual development of juveniles.
The draft also emphasises on children's access to entertainment, games, and arts at family, school and societal levels. It emphasises on having playgrounds and toys at every school.
It promises steps for ensuring playgrounds for children in all neighbourhoods, and incorporation of that principle in the government's urban planning, while prohibiting physical punishment in educational institutions.
According to the draft, the government will construct day care centres in all jails, so imprisoned mothers' and their children may stay together during the day time.
It increases maternity leave up to six months, to make it easier for working mothers to breastfeed their infants, in a bid to bring the infant malnutrition rate down.
The draft also promises governmental steps for revising the minimum age for criminal prosecution, following recommendations of the United Nations Child Rights Committee.
It recommends probation, diversion, and counselling for delinquent children instead of detention.
Dr Shirin Sharmin Chowdhury said the new policy pays more attention to qualitatively enhancing child health security and rights.
The draft policy will be on the ministry website at www.mowca.gov.bd till the end of this month for getting feedback from the people, and then after some modifications it will be submitted to the cabinet for approval, said the state minister.