Social Welfare Minister Rashed Khan Menon said on Sunday that the reforms of the Children Act-2013 are being reformed. It will be passed in the next Parliament session.
He said this as the chief guest at the round table discussion on ‘Child Protection and Development in Bangladesh: Role of SOS Children’s Village’ organized jointly by SOS Children Village Bangladesh and the Daily Ittefaq at the latter’s Building Auditorium in the city.
Among others, Zebunnesa Afroz MP, Nasima Begum, NDC Women and Children Affairs Secretary, Dr. ASM Aatiqur Rahman, Professor of Social Welfare and Research Institute of Dhaka University, Barrister Mahbubur Rahman, DIG of Bangladesh Police, Shabnaz Jaherin, Child Protection Specialist of UNICEF, Dr. Khaza Shamsul Huda, Chairman of Bangladesh Child Rights Forum, M. Rabiul Islam, Deputy Director of National Human Rights Commission, Anir Liton, Director of Bangladesh Shishu Academy, Ekramul Kabir, Manager of Save the Children and Golam Ahmed Ishaq, National Director of SOS International Children Village, among others took part in the discussion. China Rani Saha, Director of SOS International Children’s
Village Bangladesh, Presented the keynote paper.
The minister said, “The child law was formed in 1974. It law was amended in 2013. After some inconsistency, the law is being reviewed, including the reinstatement of the child court on the advice of some organizations working to protect the rights of children, including UNICEF.”
However, due to socioeconomic changes in the world, children’s safety is becoming important nowadays. Our steps on child protection are inadequate, but the present government is child-friendly, he added.
Pointing out that the government is taking and implementing various programs for the development of children under the social security net; the Minister said that, SOS Children Village is exemplary institution for this case. We should follow it where the children get all rights till the age of 18. The government is thinking to recognize their work.
Speaking as special guest, Parliament member Jebunnesa Afroz said, for the first time in 2016-17, the budget has been allocated for children separately in our country.
Calling for the role of media and cultural people in the development of children, she said that every media should have child page and children movie. It is need to take action from the Information Ministry to take necessary steps to build at least a good quality child movie yearly.
Police DIG Barrister Mahbubur Rahman said, if there is no awareness, it is not possible to protect children by law only. In the light of the Children Act, one officer in each of the police stations in the country specially works with violence against children. Regardless, if there is a problem, tell the police.
National Human Rights Commission Deputy Director M. Rabiul Islam said the letter was sent to the Election Commission from the Human Rights Commission prior to the last national election, not to involve children in political violence. The Election Commission also gave the necessary directions in each of their offices. But it is not possible to protect children from political violence without the good political parties.
