Violence against children

According to a report published in this newspaper on Sunday a group of 13 men allegedly tied up and thrashed two teenage boys in Rajshahi district, accusing them of stealing a mobile phone, and allegedly recorded the entire incident on video. Unfortunately the worrisome trend of violence against children and teenagers are on the rise in this country. We remember the horrific incidents of the previous year when a number of boys were first accused of stealing and then tortured to death. Especially the horrifying video of 13-year-old Rajon, who sold vegetables for his family, tied to a pole after being accused of trying to steal a rickshaw van, screaming for his mother and begging for water as 13 grown men laugh and repeatedly beat the child’s feet, shoulders, and head until he falls and succumbs to his injuries, went viral on social media and outraged the sensitivities of the whole nation.
The prohibition of all forms of violence against children is a human rights obligation of all states. The UN Convention on the Rights of the Child includes the Right to Protection of the Child Against Abuse, which is categorised as an Immediate Right.  Article 19 of the CRC requires states to protect children from “all forms of physical or mental violence”. As we know children in Bangladesh remain subjected to many forms of violence even inside their homes.
Professional criminals are being engaged to abduct and, if necessary, to kill children to settle personal animosities and disputes over property ownership, as the children are the easiest targets. The negligence by the law enforcers in responding to this alarming situation and a general lack of awareness among the common people in the communities are the main causes behind such increase of violence against children.
It is painful, but true that child domestic workers are tortured in different ways at their work places. Stories of such torture appear in newspapers every now and then. But hardly there is substantial progress in ending this.  If this law is implemented properly, surely it will help reducing violence against children who are working as domestic helps.
The whole situation of violence against children in Bangladesh cannot be separated from the failure of the police and other law enforcing agencies including the political and social leaders. A comprehensive and collective approach of all the stakeholders can only reduce the unprecedented increase of violence against the children. Speedy investigation and strict punishment to the criminals also need to be ensured to reduce violence against children.

Violence against children

According to a report published in this newspaper on Sunday a group of 13 men allegedly tied up and thrashed two teenage boys in Rajshahi district, accusing them of stealing a mobile phone, and allegedly recorded the entire incident on video. Unfortunately the worrisome trend of violence against children and teenagers are on the rise in this country. We remember the horrific incidents of the previous year when a number of boys were first accused of stealing and then tortured to death. Especially the horrifying video of 13-year-old Rajon, who sold vegetables for his family, tied to a pole after being accused of trying to steal a rickshaw van, screaming for his mother and begging for water as 13 grown men laugh and repeatedly beat the childs feet, shoulders, and head until he falls and succumbs to his injuries, went viral on social media and outraged the sensitivities of the whole nation. The prohibition of all forms of violence against children is a human rights obligation of all states. The UN Convention on the Rights of the Child includes the Right to Protection of the Child Against Abuse, which is categorised as an Immediate Right. Article 19 of the CRC requires states to protect children from all forms of physical or mental violence. As we know children in Bangladesh remain subjected to many forms of violence even inside their homes. Professional criminals are being engaged to abduct and, if necessary, to kill children to settle personal animosities and disputes over property ownership, as the children are the easiest targets. The negligence by the law enforcers in responding to this alarming situation and a general lack of awareness among the common people in the communities are the main causes behind such increase of violence against children. It is painful, but true that child domestic workers are tortured in different ways at their work places. Stories of such torture appear in newspapers every now and then. But hardly there is substantial progress in ending this. If this law is implemented properly, surely it will help reducing violence against children who are working as domestic helps. The whole situation of violence against children in Bangladesh cannot be separated from the failure of the police and other law enforcing agencies including the political and social leaders. A comprehensive and collective approach of all the stakeholders can only reduce the unprecedented increase of violence against the children. Speedy investigation and strict punishment to the criminals also need to be ensured to reduce violence against children.