Photo : BSS

RAJSHAHI, Sept 10, 2025 (BSS)- Children should be given ample opportunities 
to learn and grow to strengthen their mental and physical development which 
is essential for building a healthy and prosperous nation.
 
Children are future leaders, so special attention must be paid to protecting 
them from violence, repression, and sexual exploitation, which hinder their 
overall development.
 
Experts and child leaders made these remarks while addressing a participatory 
workshop with duty bearers at Hotel X in the city today emphasizing the need 
for creating positive change by building partnerships between children and 
decision-makers.
 
The workshop was organised by the Association for Community Development (ACD) 
under the project titled "Children Know Better: Making Child Participation 
the Key to Improving Effectiveness of Action against Sexual Exploitation of 
Children".

Aims of the initiative was to strengthen child protection systems, raise 
awareness on safeguarding policies, and promote active participation of 
children in decision-making processes to ensure their safety from violence, 
exploitation, abuse, and neglect.

Around 40 participants consisting of government officials, development 
activists, journalists, teachers, local leaders, parents, religious leaders 
and other professionals discussed how to include children's voices in 
decisions, create child-focused systems and build stronger partnerships 
between adults and children.

Additional Deputy Commissioner of Rajshahi Metropolitan Police Sabina Yasmin, 
Deputy Director of the Department of Women Affairs Shabnam Shirin, Social 
Services Officer Dr Hamidul Islam, Upazila Social Services Officer Manik and 
Advocate Shamsun Nahar Mukti addressed the meeting as resource persons.

ACD Project Coordinators Subrata Kumar Paul, Ali Ahmed and Ahsan Ullah Sarkar 
Ripon conducted the working sessions. 

The event underscored that children are not merely victims of sexual 
exploitation, but also vital partners in identifying solutions. Their active 
participation, insights, and experiences can help reinforce child protection 
mechanisms.
 
Six child leaders from Rajshahi City Corporation (RCC), Godagari and Mohanpur 
upazilas, and six peer educators took part in the workshop, which was 
supported by ECPAT International.
 
The main objective was to build leadership skills among children and empower 
them to prevent sexual exploitation through participatory research and data 
analysis.

The project is intended to improve child protection and build trust and 
cooperation between children and adults.