2024-07-04 12:34:09
Legislators and civil society representatives emphasized the importance of joint initiatives by governments and development partners to sign Optional Protocol-3 to the UN Charter on the Rights of the Child.
They said that the government is an important responsibility in protecting the rights of children. By signing Protocol III, a child victim of rights violations, violence and exploitation can complain to the United Nations if he or her advocate does not receive justice. As a result, the issue will be addressed internationally, through which children’s rights will be protected.
They said this at the National Dialogue on ‘Child Rights and Signing of the Optional Protocol’ on Tuesday (July 2) at Parliament Member’s Club with MPs and representatives of civil society.
Sheikh Manzoor-e Alam, Regional Director of Article Nineteen presided over the dialogue organized by Article Nineteen and Plan International. The discussion was attended by Vice President of the Parliamentary Caucus on Child Rights Aroma Dutta, Member of Parliament SM Shahzada, Md. Rashiduzzaman, Farida Yasmin, Ruma Chakraborty and Anima Mukti Gomez; Media personality Dr. Jamil Ahmed, Mir Muhammad Ali, teacher of Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University, Nikhil Chandra Bhadra, Coordinator of Sundarbans and Coastal Protection Movement, Moniruzzaman Mukul, General Secretary of Scan, Amina Khatun Moni and Umm Husna Shabnam Khanam of Plan International and Maryam Shelley and Salma Parveen of Article Nineteen.
Participating in the discussion, Member of Parliament Aroma Dutta said that the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman added the issue of child rights protection in the constitution. Later, his daughter Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is working to advance the matter effectively. The present government is sincere in the implementation of the United Nations Charter of Children’s Rights. In this situation, UNICEF, European Union, development organizations should come forward unitedly to sign Protocol-3 and implement it.
Member of Parliament SM Shahzada said that the Prime Minister had eaten biscuits of the school children and said, how will the children eat this food? He instructed to add chocolate flavor to the biscuits. We hope that taking the matter of child rights protection to the Prime Minister will yield good results.
Farida Yasmin, President of Jatiya Press Club and Member of Parliament, said that we could not give these basic rights to all children – education, health, housing. Children should be made good citizens. Prime Minister is working to build Smart Bangladesh. I think, Awami League government has done enough work on child rights law and protection. Surely Bangladesh will sign Protocol-3 in the coming days.
Member of Parliament Rashiduzzaman said that the Prime Minister is sensitive towards children and women. Working tirelessly for their development. But, we are moving far away from the place of culture and values. Due to financial reasons, we cannot bring all the children in one place. Concerted steps must be taken to change this situation.