Anup Balo/Special Representative: Despite the promises of the government and the recommendations of various quarters, the establishment of the Department of Children has been going on for a long time. However, the formation of this department has been announced in the budget of the current financial year. Additional allocation has also been made for this. As a result, various local and foreign organizations working on children`s rights are hoping that the new department will play a role in preventing violence against children and ensuring children`s rights.
According to various non-governmental organizations, there are more than 70 million children in the country. Although many activities have been taken from different ministries for those children, the desired benefits are not being obtained. Stakeholders blame the lack of an integrated plan for this. Organizations working on children`s rights demanded the establishment of a separate department for children to address this problem. The government also promised to take initiative in this regard. In 2014, the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Women and Children recommended the formation of a new department for children. On the basis of that recommendation, the Ministry of Women and Children Affairs made a proposal and sent it to the Ministry of Public Administration, but it has not made any progress.
Concerned people said that the budget speech of the finance minister has raised hopes of starting the activities of the children`s department. In his budget speech for the new financial year, Finance Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal announced the establishment of the Department of Children to ensure child welfare. The budget also mentions plans to build child complexes in all districts and to set up child daycare centers in all upazilas.
In this regard, the President of the Parliamentary Caucus on Child Rights. Shamsul Haque Tuku said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is sincere about ensuring child protection and children`s rights. Separate children`s budgets have already been introduced on the advice of various organizations and agencies. The demand for setting up a separate department for children will also be implemented soon. Proposals have also been made for the formation of a children`s department. This year`s budget has been announced and allocated. He added that various organizations, including the donor agency KNH, Save the Children, have been working for a long time on child protection, including the formation of departments. Hopefully their cooperation in managing the activities of the Department of Children.
Promising to continue the cooperation, KNH Germany Country Coordinator Maruf Rumi Mumtaz said that although it was late, the initiative to establish children`s rights was positive. KNH is working with various local organizations including Dhaka Ahsania Mission, Street Children Activists Network (SCAN) on the issue.
Deputy Speaker of the Parliamentary Caucus on child rights in various programs related to the Deputy Speaker. Fazle Rabbi Mia, Chairman of the Parliamentary Caucus on Child Rights and others took part. He hoped that they would play a role in speeding up the activities of the department.
In this regard, the Chairperson of Bangladesh Child Rights Forum (BSAF) Mahbubul Haque said that BSAF is a member of seven inter-ministerial committees on child rights and child protection. In the light of long experience of working in those committees, it was recommended to form a separate children`s department. There is no alternative to the Department of Children`s Affairs to prevent violence and ensure the rights of children. This year`s budget has clearly announced the implementation of that recommendation. He hoped that the government would take necessary steps soon.