Child rape has decreased in the past year, but sexual abuse of boys has increased, according to Manusher Jonno Foundation (MJF).
MJF presented the data – based on reports published by five national dailies including Dhaka Tribune – at a press conference titled “Bangladesh Child Situation 2022: From Newspapers' Pages” on Tuesday.
According to the data gathered by MJF, child rape was down 31.5% in 2022 compared to the previous year. But children are still at risk as 560 were raped and 98 were victims of rape attempts across the country. Of them, 12 girls died after being raped.
The data also shows that a large number of them were raped by their neighbours and many by their acquaintances while playing. Meanwhile, adolescents were raped by friends, at work, on the way to school, and by family members or neighbours.
On the other hand, sexual abuse of children increased last year. A total of 96 children were victims of sexual abuse in 2022. Twenty of them were boys – compared to six in 2021.
MJF Executive Director Shaheen Anam, Department of Social Services Assistant Director Amran Khan and Dhaka University's Prof Shahnaz Huda were present as guests at the press conference.
