Rights Advocacy
Child rights under threat
All of the readers must be touched by the news story published in the front page of The Daily Star on October 30, 2013. If somebody read the news item, titled, “Blinded by blind politics”; it unveiled another chapter of brutality where a child became victim of our turbulent political culture. It is not the only story though. There are many dimensions of this violent political upsurge taking toil on many children in Bangladesh. Educational activities and learning of children got suffered largely due to turbulent situation and uncompromising attitude of major political parties.
Many of the readers might also read the news of a juvenile who sustained serious injuries as a crude bomb went off in his hand at Kakrail in the capital, published in The Daily Star (Monday, October 28, 2013). As political rivalry has escalated recently, children in increased number got lured, and in some instances forced to participate in political campaign, exposing them to abuse and maltreatment.
In the first incident, the child was exposed to a bomb unknowingly. The girl found the object while playing with fellow children near her house in Jurain, Dhaka. She had no idea what she had thought to be a plaything was actually a bomb wrapped in red scotch tape. As she began to peel the tape off, the bomb exploded injuring her severely. The incident occurred after a procession allegedly passed through the area.
However, juvenile victim in the second incident came in conflict with law as he has been treated in police custody as suspected picketer. Most of the political parties in our country allegedly lure children in their political campaign and their rights are seriously violated in the process. Though children are often forced to join in political campaign, law enforcing agencies in most occasions treat them with equal force.
As it appeared in the news report, Assistant Commissioner of Ramna division of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) claimed that juvenile, namely Sumon might have got hurt while attempting to throw the bomb. On the other hand, the victim said he had thought of being a food container. No matter whether he attempted to throw it or opened the object unknowingly, this juvenile became a victim of explosion and admitted in hospital.
In the spirit of Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) where it said in Article 2, “For the purposes of the present Convention, a child means every human being below the age of eighteen years unless under the law applicable to the child, majority is attained earlier”, Bangladesh enacted a law in 2013 defining age of children specifically. For children in conflict with the law, the act abolishes previous Children Act 1974 and reinforces the importance of diversion (alternative procedure and care) in the juvenile justice system. There is provision for separate Juvenile Courts. Among others, it also includes the provision for Child Help Desks in the police stations and a designated skilled child-friendly officer.
However, situation has not improved much and children are increasingly vulnerable when political climate deteriorates. As opposition has recently launched an all-out agitation programme against the government, vulnerability of children has increased significantly. Due to economic insecurity of street children, some political elements easily pick them for pre-Hartal vandalising activities. They are also lured to engage in fighting with law enforcing agencies. There are also some reported incidents where children picked crude bombs left in the street by political hooligans and got injured severely.
It is the duty of state to provide adequate care for child victim. It has been stated in Article 39, “States Parties shall take all appropriate measures to promote physical and psychological recovery and social reintegration of a child victim of: any form of neglect, exploitation, or abuse; torture or any other form of cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment; or armed conflicts. Such recovery and reintegration shall take place in an environment which fosters the health, self-respect and dignity of the child”. Bangladesh as a state party must take all appropriate measures to help children victim attain physical and psychological recovery. At the same time, it is necessary to provide necessary assistance to juveniles coming in conflict with law in the light of Children Act 2013.
After all, state is the principal duty bearer in realising rights of the children. As it is said in Article 4 of the CRC, “States Parties shall undertake all appropriate legislative, administrative, and other measures for the implementation of the rights recognised in the present Convention. With regard to economic, social and cultural rights, States Parties shall undertake such measures to the maximum extent of their available resources and, where needed, within the framework of international co-operation”; Bangladesh must come forward to undertake all measures in the light of CRC. Promulgation of Children Act 2013 is good initiative, however more efforts are needed. Timely response would help avoid repeating same incident in the future.
The Writer is a human rights worker.
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