Development activists and campaigners concerned raised voice against risky child labour and sexual harassment against the children for the greater interest of giving scope of grooming their latent talents through proper physical and mental development. They also demanded punitive measures against the social crimes and urged all the government and non-government entities concerned to come forward and work together to this end.
They put forward the demand while addressing a human chain and street corner meeting on the twelfth instant at Shaheb Bazar Zero Point in Rajshahi. Association for Community Development (ACD) and Ain O Shalish Kendra jointly organized the programme to mark the International Child Labour Prevention Day-2018.
ACD’s project titled ‘Sexual Exploitation of Children Online and in Travel and Tourism’ supported the meeting.
Members of the child defenders forum and community watch group were present at the programme.
ACD Project Coordinators Meraj Uddin Talukder and Ehsanul Amin, Project Officer Hafij Uddin and Programme Officer Ali Hossain, among others, addressed the meeting.
The development activists urged the community people to play a strong role in preventing child labour and online sexual harassment against children.
They said many children especially coming from the poor and distressed families suffer from various physical and mental problems due to their engagement in risky labour. So, all the authorities concerned should work together to protect the children from their vulnerable condition. Quoting a survey report on violence and repression against women and children conducted in the city, they revealed that 487 incidents of repression and violence against women and children took place during February, 2017 to March, 2018.
The speakers urged journalists to highlight the new problem of online sexual harassment and repression against children through their in-depth reporting so that policymakers take the issue seriously and find ways to address the problem.
Referring to the study findings, Ali Hossain said some children were seen facing the problems due to the abuse of internet, which is a concern for the society.
Time has come to combat the crime collectively and the media have a vital role to play in this regard, he said.
