Third and Fourth Periodic Report on CRC - Unicef

Convention on the Rights of the Child
8.1 Measures taken on the concluding observations
Bangladesh has not yet ratified the UN Convention relating to the Status of Refugees of 1951. Also there is no
legislation for the refugees in the country. Since 1991 Rohingya refugees from Myanmar are staying in
Bangladesh. In association with UNHCR, under a Memor<strong>and</strong>um of Underst<strong>and</strong>ing (MOU), the State party is
providing supports to the refugees living in two camps in terms of shelter, healthcare services <strong>and</strong> education to
children etc. The unaccompanied children are also provided with adequate supports <strong>and</strong> protection. Refugee
children born in Bangladesh are duly registered. There are also many immigrants from Myanmar who live in
make-shift camps near the river Teknaf.
The Government is very much concerned about child labour <strong>and</strong> is increasingly undertaking different poverty
focused programmes for reduction of child labour through facilitating access to education, with collaboration of
NGOs <strong>and</strong> development partners. A comprehensive Time Bound Programme (2004-15) for eradicating child
labour has been undertaken with the support of development partners. There are several other projects also
addressing the issues of hazardous child labour, street children etc. Micro credit programmes, for example, is
increasing at a geometric rate helping eradicate poverty. A comprehensive survey on hazardous child labour has
been conducted by BBS with the support of ILO in 2005. Though not very comprehensive, some surveys on
street children <strong>and</strong> domestic labour have been also conducted.
Bangladesh has ratified the ILO Convention-182 concerning the Prohibition <strong>and</strong> Immediate Action on
Elimination of Worst Forms of Child Labour in 2001. A Child Labour Policy, dealing among others with age of
admission into employment (in reference to ILO Convention-138), has been drafted <strong>and</strong> awaiting approval. The
country’s Labour Law has been enacted in 2006. The Mines (Amendment) Act, 2004 has revised the age of
children who can be engaged in mines from 15 years to 18 years to conform to the CRC. The State Party is in
the process of increase the number of Labour Inspectors significantly. Over the years, the employment of child
labour in garments <strong>and</strong> in other sectors, has decreased, <strong>and</strong> many of the children are attending schools anew.
Monitoring system of activities related to women <strong>and</strong> child protection issues has by <strong>and</strong> large been strengthened
through developing new tools <strong>and</strong> mechanisms. The system covers, inter alia, issues concerning sexual
exploitation, sale, trafficking <strong>and</strong> abduction <strong>and</strong> children in conflict/contact with law. Follow up actions are taken
based on the monitoring reports. Meetings on law <strong>and</strong> order particularly with reference to abuse <strong>and</strong> violence
against children are more regularly held <strong>and</strong> situation assessed for taking measures <strong>and</strong> identifying future
course of action.
The Government has enacted a number of laws to address violence against children <strong>and</strong> women, such as The
Suppression of Violence against Women <strong>and</strong> Children Act, 2000, The Acid Control Act, 2002, The Acid Crimes
Prevention Act, 2002, <strong>and</strong> The Law <strong>and</strong> Order Disruption Crimes (Speedy Trial) Act, 2002. Offenders are now
being arrested <strong>and</strong> tried in more number than before. Police administration is being modernized. One Stop
Crisis Centre (OCC) has been in operation in all 6 Divisions for supporting the woman victims. Along with the
Government, NGOs are increasingly getting involved <strong>and</strong> working in advocacy <strong>and</strong> awareness programmes.
National Plan of Action against Sexual Exploitation <strong>and</strong> Abuse of Children, including Trafficking (NPA-SEACT)
has been formulated. A regional strategy to combat child sexual abuse <strong>and</strong> sexual exploitation of children was
adopted by all seven South Asian Countries in Dhaka.
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