RAJSHAHI, June 13, 2018 (BSS)-Development activists and campaigners
concerned here raised voice against risky child labour and sexual harassment
against the children for the greater interest of giving scope of grooming
their latent talents through proper physical and mental development.
They also demanded punitive measures against the social crimes and urged
all the government and non-government entities concerned to come forward and
work together to this end.
They put forward the demand while addressing a human chain and street
corner meeting at Shaheb Bazar Zero Point in the city on Tuesday.
Association for Community Development (ACD) and Ain O Shalish Kendra
jointly organized the programme to mark the International Child Labour
Prevention Day-2018.
ACD’s project titled ‘Sexual Exploitation of Children Online and in
Travel and Tourism’ supported the meeting.
Members of the child defenders forum and community watch group were
present at the programme.
ACD Project Coordinators Meraj Uddin Talukder and Ehsanul Amin, Project
Officer Hafij Uddin and Programme Officer Ali Hossain, among others,
addressed the meeting.
The development activists urged the community people to play a strong
role in preventing child labour and online sexual harassment against
children.
They said many children especially coming from the poor and distressed
families suffer from various physical and mental problems due to their
engagement in risky labour. So, all the authorities concerned should work
together to protect the children from their vulnerable condition.
Quoting a survey report on violence and repression against women and
children conducted in the city, they revealed that 487 incidents of
repression and violence against women and children took place during
February, 2017 to March, 2018.
The speakers urged journalists to highlight the new problem of online
sexual harassment and repression against children through their in-depth
reporting so that policymakers take the issue seriously and find ways to
address the problem.
Referring to the study findings, Ali Hossain said some children were seen
facing the problems due to the abuse of internet, which is a concern for the
society.
Time has come to combat the crime collectively and the media have a vital
role to play in this regard, he said.