2024-03-15 00:36:32
With the help of UNICEF, the government has completed the recruitment of more than 1,200 social workers in the child protection sector. UNICEF considers this an important initiative to ensure the welfare of children and their families across the country.
The organization said this in a press release on Thursday (March 14).
As the first step of inclusion in Child Protection Social Services, Directorate of Social Services (DSS) and UNICEF jointly completed a three-day ‘Training of Trainers’ (TOT) program for these new social workers in Dhaka today.
The training is arranged in such a way that these social workers get a proper understanding of their new workplace and responsibilities at the outset and can adapt easily. Emphasis is also placed on building their capacity to work in important areas such as child protection, family support, emergency services and implementation of child rights policies. The main objective of this initiative is to improve the quality of service delivery by building a skilled workforce and making these services accessible to all.
Minister of Social Welfare Dr. Dipu Moni said the government under the leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is committed to protecting children from all forms of harm. The appointment of these new social workers is an example of our commitment to improve the country’s child protection system.
We appreciate UNICEF’s commitment to supporting government efforts, building the capacity of service providers and ensuring that every child receives the care and protection they deserve, he added.
European Union Ambassador Charles Whatley said, today’s children are tomorrow’s future. Ensuring protection of children is essential to building a developed nation. The European Union applauded the government’s efforts to ensure child protection by increasing the number of social workers by 40 percent. We have been working with the government and other like-minded stakeholders for over 20 years in the field of social services. We are really proud to see the results of our combined efforts.
Sheldon Yate, UNICEF representative in Bangladesh, said that as important as increasing the number of social workers engaged in the protection of children, it is equally important to inculcate the right information and knowledge among them. Because, when children and their families are victims of any violence, these social workers stand by their side with essential services.’
Despite this progress, challenges such as prevalence of child labour, inadequate birth registration, lack of family support in the lives of children raised in institutional care, and high rates of child marriage still exist in Bangladesh. UNICEF believes these problems can be tackled through a concerted effort involving governments, civil society and international partners.
There is also a need for continued investment in human resource development and specialized training programs to meet the growing needs of marginalized children and families.
UNICEF calls on the government to prioritize increasing and empowering the child protection workforce to effectively support the country’s large and marginalized children. Together with the European Union and other partners, UNICEF is committed to building a comprehensive national child protection system that will ensure the rights and overall well-being of every child in Bangladesh.