At the age of 12, Shaorin Sultana Tumpa's father passed away, and her mother decided to marry her off. Tumpa, determined to continue her education, learned about the “Girl Shine” program, which educated her mother about the harms of early marriage. Tumpa also pursued martial arts and later taught it to 30 girls. She now aspires to continue her education and make a positive impact on society.
A recent research conducted by the International Rescue Committee (IRC) shed light on the state of child rights in Cox's Bazar.
During the launch of the research report, Meher Afroz Chumki, MP, chair of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Women and Child Protection, emphasized the need for greater awareness among families about the importance of education and proper child development.
Meher said: "Many families in Bangladesh believe that children, especially girls, do not require education due to societal attitudes. Poverty often forces children to work at an early age, and girls are sometimes married off young.
“Instead of punitive measures, parents should be counselled to understand the importance of education and children's well-being. Government agencies and human rights organizations should collaborate to address this issue."
The child rights survey revealed several concerning findings, including a high rate of drownings among children aged two to six.
Additionally, the report highlighted issues such as inadequate daily nutrition, an increasing tendency toward drug use and trafficking among young children, and limited access to medical services in remote areas of greater Cox's Bazar.
The region is prone to natural disasters like cyclones, floods, heavy rains, and landslides, which disproportionately affect children.
The survey found that 63.48% of children had experienced some form of natural disaster in their lives. Children reported mental stress, loss of educational materials, hunger, physical injuries, and sexual harassment during such disasters.
The report also pointed out that high poverty rates in the region make it challenging for many families to afford their children's education.
Child labour is prevalent, with many children engaged in work, resulting in 43.26% being deprived of an education. The report also highlighted various forms of harassment experienced by child labourers.
Based on the survey's findings, the report made several recommendations, including:
- Ensuring the alignment of child rights and protection laws with other existing laws.
- Allocating adequate funds and resources to efficiently implement child rights and protection measures.
- Strengthening community-based child protection mechanisms to allow children to express their views and enjoy their rights.
- Close monitoring of the proper implementation of the Child Protection Act through coordination between the government and development agencies at various administrative levels.
IRC Country Director Hasina Rahman called for collaborative efforts by the government and stakeholders to ensure child protection.
The event was attended by key figures, including Chief of the National Human Rights Commission's Child Rights Committee Rabiul Islam, Joint Secretary of the Social Services Directorate Lovelur Rahman, and USAID-Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance Project Management Coordinator Farah Naz, among others.
Sabira Sultana Nupur, head of advocacy and communication at the IRC, moderated the program.
Since 2018, the International Rescue Committee (IRC) has been working in 27 camps to assist Rohingya refugees. In addition to refugee support, the IRC is actively involved in reproductive healthcare, child protection, child education, gender-based violence prevention, and disaster management for the local population of Cox's Bazar.
