Abuse of children persists unabated despite various initiatives, and the recent report by the Ain O Salish Kendra (ASK) underscores the alarming reality.
The report revealed that 786 children fell victim to torture in the past nine months, with 225 cases reported from January to March, 333 from April to June, and 228 from July to September.
Of them, 155 incidents involved abuse by teachers.
Further analysis of the ASK data reveals that 371 children lost their lives during this period, with 23 succumbing to violence following rape, 111 after physical abuse, 79 through suicide, and 118 bodies recovered from different locations.
The report discloses 123 registered cases of child murder, with a staggering 125 occurring from July to September alone.
This grim toll includes 32 children aged zero to 6 years, 26 in the 7-to-12-year age group, 53 aged 13 to 18 years, and 14 cases with unspecified age.
The figures show 118 child murders from April to June and 128 from January to March.
In addition to the harrowing statistics, the report outlines the sexual assault of 255 girls and 36 boys over the nine-month period. The majority of victims of both torture and rape fall within the 13 to 18 age range.
Challenges
Kamrunnahar, a member of Naripokkho, expressed concerns, saying: "Despite numerous initiatives to curb child abuse, the malady persists."
She identified three key challenges.
The first one is inefficiency in implementing existing laws, which is leading to prolonged prosecution processes benefitting the offenders.
“The judiciary has yet to earn the people's trust, as it falls short of fulfilling the expectation to conclude trials within the stipulated 180 days. This failure allows criminals to evade justice, with those responsible for the delays escaping accountability,” she said.
The second challenge is insufficient social resistance initiatives.
Thirdly, a robust safety net for children is absent, leaving them vulnerable to abuse. This lack of protection stems from a societal disregard for the humanity of women and children. Consequently, victims often bear the burden of proving their victimhood in legal proceedings.
Solutions
Abdulla Al Mamun, director of child protection and child rights governance at Save the Children Bangladesh, proposed short-term solutions, with a primary focus on expediting trials.
He stressed the importance of swift justice to instill fear in potential offenders. A prompt response to heinous crimes like child rape sends a strong message and instills fear in perpetrators.
Additionally, Abdulla Al Mamun advocated for creating a safety net for children, ensuring their environments, including playgrounds, schools, and recreational spaces, are secure.
Furthermore, he underscored the need for controlling the use of mobile and digital gadgets in order to enhance child safety.