While working in Liberia during 2013-2014, I along with the team had an opportunity to support the government in implementing their deinstitutionalisation policy. This had several components: reunifying children living in institutions (popularly known as “missions”) with their families, supporting the parents with a start-up capital and basic training on business skills, developing capacity on […]
Think before donating to orphanages Read More »
After working on child rights for the most part of my professional life, I have come to realise that there is a very limited understanding of children’s rights in our society. Moreover, there is a lot of misunderstanding also. For example, at the community-level awareness-raising events, parents sometimes ask, “I get quite confused when I
Children are speaking up: Are we ready to listen? Read More »
For the last few days, I have been thinking of a group of adolescent girls (studying in high school) whom I met in a char of Lalmonirhat district several years ago. It has been profoundly inspiriting to note their determination to continue education even when they had to face so many challenges. Walking for two
Let girls grow up as equal citizens Read More »
The following news (published by a leading Bengali national daily on September 30, the National Day of the Girl Child) has been haunting me since I read it: In the last one and a half years, 24 girls below three years were raped. It was also reported that most of the perpetrators were known to
What we need to do Read More »
Recently violence against children has been highlighted by print and electronic media of Bangladesh. Media usually report extreme cases of violence (abductions, killings, rapes). According to Bangladesh Shishu Adhikar Forum (BSAF), 1,085 children were killed during 2012-2015. The disturbing trend continues in 2016 (162 children were killed during the first four months of the year).
The ‘village’ must ACT NOW Read More »
You give dowry and I receive it, why are you bringing government into this? “said a woman in a village in Rangpur district during a discussion on women’s status. I had the opportunity to facilitate the session, and have thought of this many times since hearing several years ago. The comment reminds me that it
It’s not just poverty Read More »
Recently a friend of mine called to inform that his nephew (studying in class three in an English medium school in Dhaka) has been severely beaten by his teacher. I was outraged to know that this has been going on for the last two weeks, and the child has been visibly injured. I informed my
Make corporal punishment of children socially unacceptable Read More »
