Child rights activists have demanded formation of a separate directorate for children to protect them from abuse, addiction and child marriage, and engaging in criminal activities due to increase in level of poverty.
They also focused on the directorate for development of children's talent by ensuring their rights, safety and bright future.
The child rights experts, human rights activists, and representatives from various child development organisations raised the demand during a workshop organised by Nari Unnayan Shakti, an organisation dedicated to development of women and children, according to a press release.
Dr Afroja Parvin, Executive Director of Nari Unnayan Shakti, highlighted various risks, presently faced by children, and laid importance on the directorate.
She said a number of children in Bangladesh are facing poverty, abuse and child marriage as well as engaged in drug addiction and criminal activities, although many organisations are working on these issues.
Absence of a dedicated child directorate makes effective coordination between the government and non-government sectors difficult, she added.
Representatives from various organisations, such as Bangladesh Child Rights Forum (a network of 183 NGOs), Forum for Culture and Human Development, Young Women for Development Rights and Climate, Bangladesh Human Rights Journalists Forum, Alternative Development Program, Gram Bangla Development Committee, etc, also shared their perspectives. They agreed to work together for taking steps to form the directorate to ensure secured future of children in the country.
They expressed interest to work for creation of appropriate opportunities and platforms for talented children, ensuring quality education, nutrition, healthcare and safety for them, and strengthening coordination among various organisations to enhance effectiveness of the existing child welfare initiatives.
They also suggested formulation and implementation of specific policies and action plans for neglected and disadvantaged children along with protection of children from drugs, criminal activities, and unethical influences.
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