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Child protection remains elusive in Bangladesh

Published : Thursday, 13 February, 2025 at 12:00 AM  Count : 492
Musharraf Tansen
Bangladesh, a densely populated country of over 180 million people, has made remarkable progress in various socio-economic indicators over the past few decades. Improvements in literacy rates, healthcare, and poverty reduction have contributed to better living conditions. However, despite these advancements, child protection remains a pressing concern.

Bangladesh is a signatory to several international conventions aimed at protecting children, most notably the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC). This commitment obliges the country to safeguard children from abuse, exploitation, and neglect. Domestically, several laws and policies have been enacted to address child protection.

The Children Act, 2013, serves as a comprehensive legal framework covering juvenile justice, child welfare, and protection mechanisms. It ensures the rights and well-being of children in conflict with the law and those in need of care and protection. The Prevention and Suppression of Human Trafficking Act, 2012, aims to combat child trafficking and related crimes by enforcing legal provisions to prosecute traffickers and support victims. Additionally, the Labor Act, 2006 (Amended 2018), prohibits hazardous child labor and sets minimum working age limits to shield children from exploitative work conditions.

Despite the presence of these legal instruments, enforcement remains weak. Corruption, lack of awareness, and limited resources hinder effective implementation, leaving millions of children vulnerable to exploitation and harm.

Children in Bangladesh continue to face multiple forms of exploitation, abuse, and neglect, affecting their physical and psychological well-being. Poverty and socio-economic disparities often push children into hazardous labor conditions, early marriage, and unsafe environments. Weak enforcement of existing laws further exacerbates the problem, leaving many children unprotected and vulnerable. Additionally, the rapid rise of digital technology has introduced new challenges, such as online exploitation and cyberbullying, making child protection efforts even more complex.

The government must prioritize the enforcement of child protection laws by establishing specialized police units trained in child protection issues. Dedicated juvenile courts should be expanded to handle child-related cases with greater sensitivity and urgency. Moreover, legal proceedings for child abuse cases should be expedited to ensure timely justice for victims.

To combat child labor and child marriage, the government should expand financial assistance programs for impoverished families. Conditional cash transfer programs that incentivize school attendance can help reduce dropout rates and prevent families from pushing children into work or early marriage.

Public awareness campaigns should target harmful social norms that perpetuate child labor, child marriage, and violence. Engaging religious leaders, educators, and community members can help shift societal attitudes towards child protection. Schools should also integrate life skills education to empower children to recognize and report abuse.

Since trafficking networks operate across borders, regional cooperation between Bangladesh, India, Nepal, and other affected countries is crucial. Strengthening bilateral agreements, improving border security, and sharing intelligence can enhance efforts to combat trafficking.

The government should enact stronger cyber laws and establish specialized cybercrime units to protect children from online exploitation. Parents and teachers should also be educated about internet safety to prevent cyber threats.

Children who experience abuse, trafficking, or homelessness require long-term psychological support to recover. Expanding access to child-friendly counseling services, trauma care, and psychosocial support should be a key priority. Specialized mental health programs should be developed to cater to children with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and anxiety. Training healthcare professionals, social workers, and educators on trauma-informed care can significantly improve the quality of support available to affected children.

The writer is a Development Analyst and former Country Representative of Malala Fund



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