Child protection committees to be formed across country

Amid growing concerns over violence against women and children, rights activists have announced to form “child protection committees” at grassroot and national levels in a bid to thwart such offence in the country.

They came up with the announcement from a protest rally “demanding justice and ending the violence against women and children” on the Central Shaheed Minar premise in Dhaka today.

Manusher Jonno Foundation (MJF), a rights body, arranged the rally where members of around 35 rights and development organisations attended to press home their demand.

Once formed, the committees will conduct awareness building campaign and monitor incidents of violence against children, said Shaheen Anam, executive director of the MJF.

The committees will also conduct survey to learn who the perpetrators are, how police are performing their role, and what extent of law is being implemented, she said, presiding over the rally.

“It is our duty to protect our children. Why do we think only police will do it, the government will do it?” she said posing a question.

Pledging to extend all-out assistance to the victims, Shaheen Anam said she wanted to know whether their role would help the government to combat the menace in the society.

“Call us and tell, how we can assist you (got) to this end,” she said.

“We are calling upon the government to join the initiative. We can’t sit idle. We will do it [stop violence against children] collectively,” said Rasheda K Chowdhury, executive director of Campaign for Popular Education.

She said protest will have be continued so that no more children have to face violence and urged everyone irrespective of ages to join the protest.

Some 176 girl children became victims of rape incidents between December, 2018 and April, 2019 in the country, says a declaration paper which was read out at the rally.

Also, some 199 women became victims of rape incidents in the past five months, says the paper, referring to news reports of nine national dailies, and data collected by Ain O Salish Kendra and MJF.

During the time, 22 girls and 58 women were harassed sexually, it adds.

Sharmeen Murshid, chief executive officer of Brotee, said as conscious citizens, everyone should take stand and protest against the incidents of violence against children and women.

The government has sufficient initiatives, but monitoring over such incidents did not take place properly, said advocate Jannatul Ferdaus, project coordinator of Bangladesh National Women Lawyers Association.

The courts have public prosecutors who are responsible to deal with the cases of violence against women and children, to ensure speedy disposal and punishment of the perpetrators, she said.

However, these are not being happened in a great extent, she added.