Advocates of children’s rights in the capital have urged the government to ratify the Optional Protocol 3 of the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) to ensure children’s rights in the country.
Speaking at a discussion in the capital yesterday, they said it was time for Bangladesh to come forward and ratify the protocol to protect children’s rights.
The event, titled “Child Protection Status in Bangladesh: Importance of Ratification of Optional Protocol 3,” took place at the Centre on Integrated Rural Development for Asia and the Pacific (Cirdap) in the capital, organised by Bangladesh Shishu Adhikar Forum (BSAF) along with SOS Children’s Villages International and Terre des Hommes Netherlands.
The event was attended by Nasima Begum, secretary at the Ministry of Women and Children Affairs, as chief guest while Ghulam Ahmed Ishaque, national director of SOS Children’s Villages International in Bangladesh, and Ehsanul Haque of Terre Des Hommes Netherlands were in attendance as special guests. BSAF Chairperson Emranul Huq Chowdhury chaired the event.
Discussing the importance of the Optional Protocol 3 – or the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on a Communications Procedure – the speakers said although there is a children’s rights act in place in the country, it is not properly implemented and children’s rights are frequently violated, with little chances of appropriate remedies delivered to the victims.
In such circumstances, if Bangladesh ratifies the protocol, then a child, or his or her representative, will be able to file a complaint directly to the UNCRC in case of a violation of their rights if – and only if – the country’s legal system fails to provide any justice, said keynote speaker and children’s rights activist Gawher Nayeem Wahra, In reply of a query.
Once the UNCRC receives the complaint, it will investigate the issue and take actions accordingly.
A total of 49 countries have ratified the protocol since it was introduced by the UNCRC on February 28, 2012.
According to statistics, around 48% of the total population of the country are children.
