Reforming the juveniles correction centre

Juveniles of the Correction Centre were reportedly blamed in the probe report as it appeared in the front page of The Daily Star on March 30, 2014. Three members committee was formed with government officials and they cleared centre chief whom juveniles blamed for their sufferings. Different versions of the story came out though in separate probes.  As it revealed in the report, inmates complained about abuse and they were simply ignored.

A total of 20 teenage boys of the correction centre inflicted severe wounds on themselves on February 11, 2014. Those juveniles are all aged between 14 and 18 and they reportedly gashed their foreheads, arms and wrists as a symbol of protest against torture. National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) launched an investigation and found that some allegations of abuse against the centre's superintendent were true. Moreover, Inmates and their guardians complained about the abusive conduct to The Daily Star Correspondent also.

Bangladesh is one of the earliest signatories of Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) and It has been stated in Article 40 of CRC, “States Parties recognize the right of every child alleged as, accused of, or recognized as having infringed the penal law to be treated in a manner consistent with the promotion of the child's sense of dignity and worth, which reinforces the child's respect for the human rights and fundamental freedoms of others and which takes into account the child's age and the desirability of promoting the child's reintegration and the child's assuming a constructive role in society”.  Current practices in correction centres hardly promote juvenile's sense of dignity and worth. Nor do they promote children's integration in the society.

Many readers would be able to recollect that it is not the first time that the correction centre drew the attention of public. In September 2012, an inmate was strangled to death in the same correction centre. As it was revealed in the newspaper report (The Daily Star/ September 15, 2012); incidents of drug abuse and physical harassment among some inmates are prevalent in the centre. Despite making repeated calls by human rights defenders, authorities simply overlooked those issues. 

Rather, centre chief used to practice boxing on juveniles as a form of punishment. “States Parties shall take all appropriate legislative, administrative, social and educational measures to protect the child from all forms of physical or mental violence, injury or abuse, neglect or negligent treatment, maltreatment or exploitation, including sexual abuse, while in the care of parent(s), legal guardian(s) or any other person who has the care of the child”- said in Article 19 of CRC and perpetrator must be accountable in light of CRC. It is the duty of Bangladesh as state party to protect children from all forms of violence and exploitation. Regarding the incident occurred in correction centre, statements made in front of NHRC representative and journalist deserve proper consideration.

The writer is a human rights worker.