Social service programmes for street children

The three other major risk factors that such children are exposed to are early marriage, drug abuse and reproductive health issues

Today, there are more than 2.2 billion children on earth. Nearly two billions of these children live in developing countries. Depending on the country in which they reside, a child is not enjoying the same rights or conditions of life as their western counterparts. There are 51.3 million children (ages 0-14 years) living in Bangladesh, of which 24.9 million are girls and 26.4 million are boys. About 15 million children live in Bangladesh's city slums. Nearly, 500,000 to 2 million children live as street children in Bangladesh. Street children in Bangladesh live in abject poverty; do not have proper access to basic human rights such as education, housing, healthcare and protection.

In a recent study across Dhaka, Local Education and Economic Development Organization (LEEDO, a voluntary organization which is helping the most vulnerable street children of Dhaka) found, 75 per cent of the street children were involved in child labour. The three other major risk factors that such children are exposed to are early marriage, drug abuse and reproductive health issues.

As a state guardian, the Government of Bangladesh (GoB) has prime responsibility to rehabilitate and mainstream development of street children. However, Ministry of Women and Children Affairs, and Ministry of Social Welfare are leading bodies working for socio-economic development of such children. Noteworthy, Ministry of Social Welfare is implementing rehabilitation, education, training, reproductive health projects for street children. But it is very inadequate comparing bulk number of street children. The Ministry of Women and Children Affairs adopted important policies and acts such as National Commission for Rights of the Child- 2018 and Child Marriage Restraint Act, 2017. Formation of that National Commission is a good initiative. Unfortunately, lack of vertical and horizontal coordination among ministries and departments is a burning issue in Bangladesh. In policy context, there is no particular policy for street children yet. Moreover, other respective policies do not have sufficiently cross-cutting edge about street children. In such circumstance, it is very difficult for state and non-state actors to work with myriad street children without policy directions.

Most often the non-government organizations like UNICEF, Save the Children help them. They mainly focus on child poverty, child protection, child rights governance, education, livelihoods, health, nutrition and humanitarian activities. There are also some small non-government organizations such as Bangladesh Street Child Foundation, Street Children Activist Network, Dhaka Ahsania Mission, etc. These NGOs are mostly donor-dependent and have small-scale social programme interventions for street children. However, NGOs should involve more the community based organizations, pressure groups, faith-based organizations, local clubs, civil society organizations, philanthropic individual/organizations and private sectors to increase its coverage and programme operations.   

Organized crime groups in Bangladesh hire street children to conduct serious crimes. They carry weapons, sell drugs, collect extortion money and commit political violence. Some young people are involved in land grabbing and even contract killings. Street children are seriously vulnerable to sexual abuses and prostitution.

According to our constitution, there is protection for every citizen from all forms of discrimination. All citizens are equal before the law and entitled to equal protection, and must be treated in compliance with the law without any discrimination.

However, the number of street children in Bangladesh is increasing day by day. Climate-induced displacement and lack of employment round-the-year in rural areas are major causes of pouring of many hopeless people in crowded cities. The initiatives of NGOs may create a good example throughout working with street children in scattered way. But the state should take the main responsibility and undertake comprehensive social programmes for them. That is why the government of Bangladesh should conform to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child by developing a national policy to protect street children, with particular emphasis on the dignity, social, economic, and cultural rights of such beloved.

The writer is a PhD candidate, Department of Social Work

School of Social Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM).

E-mail: [email protected]

 

Social service programmes for street children

The three other major risk factors that such children are exposed to are early marriage, drug abuse and reproductive health issues

Today, there are more than 2.2 billion children on earth. Nearly two billions of these children live in developing countries. Depending on the country in which they reside, a child is not enjoying the same rights or conditions of life as their western counterparts. There are 51.3 million children (ages 0-14 years) living in Bangladesh, of which 24.9 million are girls and 26.4 million are boys. About 15 million children live in Bangladeshs city slums. Nearly, 500,000 to 2 million children live as street children in Bangladesh. Street children in Bangladesh live in abject poverty; do not have proper access to basic human rights such as education, housing, healthcare and protection. In a recent study across Dhaka, Local Education and Economic Development Organization (LEEDO, a voluntary organization which is helping the most vulnerable street children of Dhaka) found, 75 per cent of the street children were involved in child labour. The three other major risk factors that such children are exposed to are early marriage, drug abuse and reproductive health issues. As a state guardian, the Government of Bangladesh (GoB) has prime responsibility to rehabilitate and mainstream development of street children. However, Ministry of Women and Children Affairs, and Ministry of Social Welfare are leading bodies working for socio-economic development of such children. Noteworthy, Ministry of Social Welfare is implementing rehabilitation, education, training, reproductive health projects for street children. But it is very inadequate comparing bulk number of street children. The Ministry of Women and Children Affairs adopted important policies and acts such as National Commission for Rights of the Child- 2018 and Child Marriage Restraint Act, 2017. Formation of that National Commission is a good initiative. Unfortunately, lack of vertical and horizontal coordination among ministries and departments is a burning issue in Bangladesh. In policy context, there is no particular policy for street children yet. Moreover, other respective policies do not have sufficiently cross-cutting edge about street children. In such circumstance, it is very difficult for state and non-state actors to work with myriad street children without policy directions. Most often the non-government organizations like UNICEF, Save the Children help them. They mainly focus on child poverty, child protection, child rights governance, education, livelihoods, health, nutrition and humanitarian activities. There are also some small non-government organizations such as Bangladesh Street Child Foundation, Street Children Activist Network, Dhaka Ahsania Mission, etc. These NGOs are mostly donor-dependent and have small-scale social programme interventions for street children. However, NGOs should involve more the community based organizations, pressure groups, faith-based organizations, local clubs, civil society organizations, philanthropic individual/organizations and private sectors to increase its coverage and programme operations. Organized crime groups in Bangladesh hire street children to conduct serious crimes. They carry weapons, sell drugs, collect extortion money and commit political violence. Some young people are involved in land grabbing and even contract killings. Street children are seriously vulnerable to sexual abuses and prostitution. According to our constitution, there is protection for every citizen from all forms of discrimination. All citizens are equal before the law and entitled to equal protection, and must be treated in compliance with the law without any discrimination. However, the number of street children in Bangladesh is increasing day by day. Climate-induced displacement and lack of employment round-the-year in rural areas are major causes of pouring of many hopeless people in crowded cities. The initiatives of NGOs may create a good example throughout working with street children in scattered way. But the state should take the main responsibility and undertake comprehensive social programmes for them. That is why the government of Bangladesh should conform to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child by developing a national policy to protect street children, with particular emphasis on the dignity, social, economic, and cultural rights of such beloved. The writer is a PhD candidate, Department of Social Work School of Social Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM). E-mail: [email protected]