Form national child rights commission
Child Rights Advocacy Coalition in Bangladesh yesterday demanded that the government promptly complete the procedure to form a child directorate and a national child rights commission that will work on child protection and prevention of child rights violation.
The child directorate will coordinate actions taken by different ministries for children, and the national commission will make government stakeholders accountable for their actions targeting children, said Sheepa Hafiza, executive director of Ain o Salish Kendra, a member of the coalition, while reading out a statement at a press conference at Jatiya Press Club.
Since 2013, the 10-member coalition has been observing the progress in fulfilling the government’s pledges to this end, for example the commitments made as a signatory of the United Nation Convention on Child Rights and under the child-focused Universal Periodic Review of the United Nations Human Rights Council.
The coalition expressed concern over the rising trend in violence against children in the country.
As many as 826 children suffered violence until July 20 this year, according to data compiled by ASK from nine national dailies.
The number of child rapes recorded over the time is 471, 15 of who were boys. Meanwhile, 224 were murdered.
There were also 76 incidents of torture by teachers. Twenty-seven children were sexually harassed by teachers.
According to data analysis done by ASK over the last five years, 90 percent of rape victims are children and teenagers.
Coalition members, including Save the Children, ActionAid Bangladesh, Terre des hommes and Bangladesh Shishu Adhikar Forum, among others, demanded a separate tribunal for trying crimes against children.
Prolonged trial and the prevailing culture of impunity are the main reasons behind increasing violence against children, the statement said.
All incidents of child torture, rape and murder should be given the highest priority so that justice is served through quick trials, the coalition suggested.
Comments