Laila Khondkar

I remember I was in the classroom of a high school in a small district of Bangladesh when several students appeared at the door, and sought permission from our teacher to say a few words before everyone.

Sexual violence including rape of girls and women is a serious concern in our society today. Recently, several cases of rape in public transport have made the headlines.

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.

The most common misconceptions about child sex abuse is that it is only perpetrated by strangers and that it is gender specific to girls. Some think that children from poor families are vulnerable to abuse and children who are healthy

While looking into this matter of mother-child relationship we have come across some interesting specialist's viewpoints regarding the

I often get confused when I hear that children have a right to express their views on issues affecting them. Does it mean that we have to listen to whatever children say?

Sometimes I wonder how the future generations will view our time. For example, what will be their reaction when they come to know of the child labour situation in our society?

I have a 3-year-old son. He is very active and does not listen to what I say. Sometimes I end up shouting at him.

"I am a good teacher, as I do not scold or punish my students. If they do not understand something then I explain it to them,” declared a four-year-old who was acting out the role of a “teacher”; the “students” were his parents.

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.

This was what a renowned paediatrician said to the parent of a four year old child. The comment illustrates the level of frustration and helplessness about the air pollution of Dhaka.

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 the children.

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

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.

There is a need to achieve a balance between utilisation of positive aspects of the cyber world -- ensuring the rights of children to privacy, information and expression, association -- and protecting them from abuse.

AROUND 80 percent of the world's men and boys will become fathers during their lifetime, and virtually all men have at least some

Most of us are still unaware that parenting can be learnt and think that it comes naturally.

Recently a friend of mine called to inform that his nephew (studying in class three in an English medium school in Dhaka) has been