Third and Fourth Periodic Report on CRC - Unicef

Convention on the Rights of the Child
236,000 have been repatriated. Neither there is legislation for the refugees in the country nor has it ratified the
UN Convention relating to the Status of Refugees of 1951, however, the government provides services to the
Rohingyas under an MOU with UNHCR which coordinates the process of repatriation, ensures that refugees
are repatriated strictly on voluntary basis.
The Refugees living in the camps are provided with food, shelter, health <strong>and</strong> sanitation facilities, <strong>and</strong> informal
education at primary level. Health services include: immunization, family planning, antenatal care, screening for
malnutrition, supplementary <strong>and</strong> therapeutic feeding, vitamin-A distribution, curative health services, deworming
<strong>and</strong> health education. Transfer to local hospitals is arranged, if needed.
There are a total of 16 schools (8 per camp), each staffed by a 5 teachers. 93 percent children of school age
are enrolled; average attendance rate is 87 percent <strong>and</strong> average teacher to student ratio st<strong>and</strong>s at 1.32.
The Government maintains law <strong>and</strong> order. NGOs are involved in building awareness on protection issues, such
as domestic <strong>and</strong> sexual violence <strong>and</strong> trafficking. In case of any incidence of violence or abuse, children can
complain directly to UNHCR or NGO field staff. Counselling is also given where appropriate. The vulnerable
unaccompanied refugee children <strong>and</strong> women are given safety <strong>and</strong> security in the camps. Children, both
accompanied <strong>and</strong> unaccompanied, are registered at birth or at the time of arrival.
8.2.2 Children in armed conflicts including physical <strong>and</strong> psychological recovery
<strong>and</strong> social reintegration
Bangladesh has ratified the Optional Protocol to the CRC on the involvement of the Children in Armed Conflict.
Bangladesh submitted its report on the Protocol, defended the same <strong>and</strong> recently received concluding
observation on it.
Bangladesh does not allow its under-18 citizens to serve in the positions in armed forces, police, Bangladesh
Rifles (BDR) <strong>and</strong> Ansar (Auxiliary Force) <strong>and</strong> Village Defence Party (VDP). Persons are recruited in the armed
forces on strictly voluntary basis. Moreover, the recruits like officer of Commissioned Rank of Bangladesh Army,
Cadets of Bangladesh Navy <strong>and</strong> Flight Cadets of Bangladesh Air Force undergo training of two years before
they are employed for actual services. No one is recruited in Police, VDP <strong>and</strong> Ansar at an age below 18 years.
School curricula include issues on human rights to strengthen a culture of peace <strong>and</strong> tolerance. The text books,
for example of Grade-V, also have a separate chapter on "World Peace <strong>and</strong> the United Nations".
After decades of insurgency, tension in Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) has substantially reduced after signing the
Peace Accord in 1997. Many organizations have started working with the hill people, including children, to bring
peace <strong>and</strong> prosperity in the area.
8.3 Children in conflict with law
8.3.1 The administration of juvenile justice
The Children Act, 1974 <strong>and</strong> the Children Rules, 1976 are the principal legal instruments governing the
administration of juvenile justice in Bangladesh. They deal with children in conflict with law <strong>and</strong> the children in
need of protection. The Government has made various efforts to put juvenile justice issues on the agenda, but
still much more needs to be done.
The age of criminal responsibility has been recently raised from 7 to 9 years. Criminal liability of children
between the ages 9 <strong>and</strong> 12 years is subject to judicial assessment of their capacity to underst<strong>and</strong> the nature
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