As the government is pledge-bound to safeguard the rights of children, including ensuring education, child health and reduction of malnutrition, it has envisioned a plan to implement child-related projects to achieve Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This was stated by Planning Minister MA Mannan while speaking at a seminar titled 'Route to Rights: Children are Speaking' jointly organised by six non-governmental organizations at the Spectra Convention Centre in the capital on Tuesday.
The minister said, "The government is committed to protect all the rights of children including education, child health, reduction of malnutration and others. We try to approve child related projects as early as possible and the concerned ministry tries to implement the project in the shortest possible time." The minister also said, "The government is a child-friendly one. It is trying to achieve all SDGs but we have shortage of fund. The contributions and works of national and international NGOs are important in this regard."
In his speech, Shamsul Haque Tuku MP, said, "Our government approves the projects based on children in the quickest possible time. The government is trying to improve the quality of education. We have decided to establish primary schools at every village." In the programme, Professor Afsan Chowdhury presented the keynote paper on child rights situation in Bangladesh, prepared by the Foundation of Disaster Forum.
In his presentation, Professor Afsan recommended to establish an inter-ministerial body to track and monitor the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) and the SDG interventions led by a focal ministry for children (MOWCA) with a specialized directorate for children. He also recommended to develop a national plan of action for mainstreaming the children from marginalized groups including minorities and hard to reach areas children, establishing national ombudsperson office and investigating violations of CRC and other related issues.
Country directors from six different international NGOs, including Save the Children, Educo, Plan International, SOS Children's villages, TDHIF and World Vision, presented their views on different issues related to children.
