Save the Children marks 30 yrs of UNCRC
Save the Children in Bangladesh has celebrated the 30th anniversary of United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) highlighting a number of issues including child marriage, child labour, physical and mental punishment, protection of Rohingya children and many others.
The rights organisation unveiled and displayed a few child friendly publications and arranged a discussion at CIRDAP auditorium in the capital on Sunday.
Save the Children has published a child-friendly poster jointly with the ministry of women and children affairs and Bangladesh Shishu Academy based on the articles of UNCRC.
The chief guest Mohibul Hasan Chowdhury of the event, also the deputy minister of education ministry said while unveiling the poster, “The government has taken various initiatives for the children such as distribution of new books, publication of Braille books and so on. We want to ensure all the rights enlisted in UNCRC through continued efforts.”
Special guest of the event, additional secretary of the ministry of women and children affairs, Rafiqul Islam said, “Ensuring proper physical and mental development as well as education and sports environment for children are must to achieve the sustainable development goals.”
The director of the Child Rights Governance and Child Protection Sector of Save the Children in Bangladesh, Abdulla Al Mamun, presented a paper during the programme.
He highlighted Bangladesh’s progress and future plans in implementing child rights so far after signing the UNCRC agreement.
The paper showed, Bangladesh has achieved significant success in reducing newborn and maternal mortality rates. The death rate of newborns has dropped from 87 to 34 per thousand live births.
Nearly, 82 per cent of children are completing primary education. Besides, the government has been successful in distributing new books and improving the education infrastructure, he added.
The paper emphasised on establishing a separate department for children in order to increase the allocation for children in the national budget with emphasis on education, health and safety. It also cited the importance of enactment of laws prohibiting physical and mental punishment of the child in all fields, participation of children, especially disabled children and children from minority groups in decision making process.
In October, Save the Children arranged a selfie video contest with the participation of the children from across the country. In the programme titled My Country My Responsibility, the children in their selfie video pledged to work for the development of child marriage, child abuse, corruption, education and healthcare. The top ten videos of the competition were displayed in the anniversary programme.