Child rights - whose responsibility?

"Children do not constitute anyone's property: they are neither the property of their parents nor even of society. They belong only to their own future freedom." -- Mikhail Bakunin

The history of violence, injustice, inhumane behaviour against the weak quarters dates back to the ancient times. Unfortunately children - 'future of a nation' - have been suffering from ancient times in manifold social, political grounds around the world. Even in the modern age children are the cruel victims of sundry forms of violence in developing countries like Bangladesh.

While observing a religious festival of the Ancient Sabeans, the Sabeans pressed grapes and slaughtered a male newborn who was then "boiled and deboned; the flesh was rolled in flour, oil, saffron, raisins, and spices and then over-baked. It was eaten by the priests during the ceremony to Shemal."

In Hammurabi's Code, Code - 195 exhibits "The father's absolute authority extended to a right to use his children as payment of or collateral for debts". Many other primitive societies also experienced brutal treatment towards children. Italian state of Venice prohibits the use of child labour under the age of 13 in 1396. In 1839 Massachusetts became the first American state to adopt child labour reform laws. These laws prohibit the employment of any child under 15. In 1860, some 50 per cent of children in England between the age of 5 and 15 years were working.

Hence child labour is not a new phenomenon. It has its genesis in ancient times. In more recent history, it emerged as an issue during the industrial revolution when children were forced to work in dangerous conditions for up to 12 hours a day.

 The development of Child Rights Movement is divided into three timeframes: first generation - 1923 to 1959; second generation - 1959 to 1979; third generation - 1979 to afterwards.

In 1919, the world began to address the issue of child labour and the International Labour Organisation (ILO) adopted standards to eliminate it. Throughout the 20th Century, a number of legally binding agreements and international conventions were adopted but in spite of these, child labour continues to this day. The highest number of child labourers is in the Asia-Pacific region but the largest percentage of children working, as proportion of the child population, is found in sub-Saharan Africa.

The country - Bangladesh - has been accolade with flood of promises regarding the protection and promotion of child rights in political manifestations and policies. In reality these tales are carried out little.

A great number of children of ultra poor families, disaster-prone areas, ethnic communities and many other socially excluded groups cannot have access to basic education. Most of the indigenous children are deprived of having their education in their mother language.

The children of indigenous communities are not blessed to pursue their education in their mother language. The Education Policy 2010 (p.15) refers "Measures will be taken to ensure the availability of teachers from ethnic groups and to prepare texts in their own languages so that ethnic children can learn their own indigenous languages".

Election manifesto of Bangladesh Awami League for the ninth parliamentary polls in 2008 (A charter for change) said in article 13 - "welfare of children and the juvenile: child labour will be gradually abolished in all sectors. Use of children in political and other activities through coercion or enticement will be prohibited. In keeping with the UN Convention on Children's rights adequate measures will be taken for developing their physical and mental capacity and for their nutrition and entertainment."  

The election manifesto of Bangladesh Nationalist Party of 2008 also offered that children would not be entangled into any political activities.

Although both the leading parties promised to protect child rights, their political actions reflected high presence of children in political activities over the last couple of years. In the last year in the guise of anti-government movement opposition parties abused children as shield at the political battleground. The party in the government on the eve of the last national election (ab)used the images of children for voting campaign in digital means.

Also due to political turmoil, strike, blockade in the last year the country witnessed a number of schoolgoing children being assaulted. Last year thousands of madrasa students were visible in taking part in violent activities at the grand rally of Hefajat-e-Islam and other course of turbulent actions by Jamaat-e-Islam. These young students were greatly misdirected by their masters.

Bangladesh Chattra Union in its 36th national congress held on Dhaka University campus gathered more than a hundred high school students from Haji Awal High School, Kamrangirchar on 15th February, 2014.

Over the last two decades, there emerged a number of success stories in promoting child rights in the country. Government agencies, development partners, private sector have contributed to this profound performance together.

Making primary education free and compulsory is an exemplary one. Birth and Death Registration Act 2004 is also counted as a safeguard for the protection of rights of children.

In August 2010, under the order of the High Court, Bangladesh officially prohibited all forms of corporal punishment in schools. From April 2011 the ministerial guideline came into force.

Free distribution of textbooks up to grade nine is another prudent decision in transforming human capital. In addition sundry social safety net programs have widened the right to education for large number of poor students. Unless measures are taken to protect poor students, particularly female students, the issues like lack of transparency and accountability will generate questions among people.

The 'National Child Labour Elimination Policy 2010' sets 2015 as the target line to eradicate child labour from the country, but in reality it is a next to impossible issue by this timeframe.

At the end it is our turn to ask ourselves, are we promoting child labour, protecting children from violence? Is your shopping, the clothes we wear, the products we use or service we receive child labour-free?

Until driving a social movement to establish a child-friendly society for the children of all quarters, we would not have a just society.  

 'The world wants no new promises' - Ban Ki-moon (2007).

The writers are students of Dept of Development Studies & Management Studies, University of Dhaka.

Email: arup_dds@hotmail.com