Some gruesome incidents involving children across the country in the recent days have sparked widespread shock and worries. The brutal beating to death of 13-year old Samiul Alam Rajon in Sylhet last month and the barbaric torture to death of 12-year old Rakib in Khulna this month have stirred our senses of anguish at the state of protection for the children. These two incidents that have taken place on very trivial issues, expose the extent of cruelty towards innocent children and no word of sympathy can wrap the wounds in our social fabric, created by such incomprehensible acts of human behaviour.
Violence against children is nothing new. Children have always been subjected to neglect, abuse, maltreatment, exploitation and violence. The cases are stronger, particularly in rural setting where children are the primary victims of malnourishment and often deprived of access to education and proper health services. In most cases, they are uncared for and helpless too. We have seen innumerable reports on how children have been used in human trafficking, in workplaces as labour and even as hostages, in acts of ransom seekers. All these happen because children are innocent and can be the easy targets. Incidents of violence against children do not take place in Bangladesh alone; rather it is a global phenomenon. We have seen gunmen storming into schools and killing small children in the USA, Pakistan and many other places.
According to a report from a non-governmental organisation (NGO) engaged with child welfare in the country, nearly a thousand children have lost lives during the last three years due to torture and repression. The report mentions the number is on the rise every year and that the nature of torture is also becoming worse than ever before. This is quite alarming, indeed. Psychologists and experts opine that there are behavioural changes in human actions due to several factors which range from individual or group expectations, materialism and disparity to unemployment, poverty and mismatches in socio-cultural beliefs and practices. It has been observed that children take the first shot as they lack the edifice of protection and are most vulnerable as far as affection, hopes and aspirations are concerned.
There have been a series of discussions on child rights, both nationally and globally. The United Nations (UN) itself weaved principles for child protection from abuses and exploitation. The UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) underscores the fundamental importance of ensuring safety, security and thus, development of the children. Article 19 of the Convention clearly stipulates that every child has the right to protection from violence, injury, abuse, neglect and maltreatment.
The government of Bangladesh has also shown its commitment to ensure welfare of the children. It has repealed the Children Act 1974 and enacted a new law in 2013 known as the Shishu Ain. Truly, the new Act covenants the UN Convention on Rights of the Children and incorporates some thoughtful provisions like establishment of Child Welfare Boards at national, district and Upazilla levels as well as creating Child Affairs Desks at the Police Stations. We are, of course, yet to see implementation of such measures which could have given us solace for the efforts to give significant protection to our seventy million children.
When social scientists deem a shift in human attitudes and behaviour, especially towards children, it is time to be on our toes to rethink about our social and ethical value. Rajon was killed on suspicion of theft while Rakib had to give away his short span of life for switching job. Both, coming from underprivileged families, were killed through torture in most horrific manners. These raised our eyebrows because of being reported in the media. It is not exactly known how many more such incidents have taken place earlier. It is also not unlikely that we would hear about such or even more gruesome stories again.
Whether there is a shift in our attitude or behaviour, it is evident that these are the results of our moral decadence. To stop the process of this decay, we need to develop and implement holistic measures that should include a renaissance of social cult of respecting human value. Sparing the culprits to go without due punishment will only impede the creed for justice and a society of harmony. Massive awareness campaigns and moral education about protection, love and care of the children by parents and community, coupled with the visible assurance of support by the state, can only bridge the gap. Only then, tears in the eyes of the parents like those of Rajon and Rakib can dry off with a reassuring hope of a safer world for the children.
(The writer is a CSR consultant & broadcaster. mohicsr@gmail.com)
