Implement CRC recommendations

Shamsul Alam Bakul, deputy country representative of Save the Children Sweden-Denmark, speaks at a press conference at the National Press Club in the city yesterday. Photo: STAR

Several organisations working on child rights yesterday urged the government to implement all recommendations of the report of Committee on the Rights of the Child (CRC), a body of independent experts that monitors implementation of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child.
Save the Children Sweden-Denmark, Children Protection Movement (CPM), Together with Working Children (TWC) and Shishu Shurakkhai Amra (SSA) made the call at a joint press conference at the National Press Club in the city.
The recommendations of the report include formulation of child labor and child protection policy, amendment in right to information act and formation of monitoring cell to ensure implementation of all policies and laws related to child rights in the country.
They said although the country has passed 20 years since ratification of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, it could not make any remarkable success to establish the child rights due to lack of proper implementation process.
AKM Mustaque Ali, focal person of SSA, at the press conference stressed the need for approval of the National Children Labor Policy 2008 and formulating a law banning employment of children under 18 in hazardous work.
He also demanded amendment in the Children Rights Law 1974 and to strengthen women and children affairs ministry as it plays an important role as mediator within different ministries regarding child rights issues.
Ratan Sarker, focal person of TWC, focused on implementation of the third National Action Plan for 2005-10 and suggested for an integrated action plan to improve nutritional status of the children.
He also emphasised on more allocation in budget for the children to implement different projects aiming to establish child rights.
Shamsul Alam Bakul, deputy country representative of Save the Children Sweden-Denmark, urged the concerned ministry to include the adolescent health issue into the draft of the National Health Policy.