State Minister for Social Welfare Farzana Sharmin is seen in middle on the PID photo

COLOMBO, June 25, 2026 (BSS) - Bangladesh has announced its national commitment at the two-day South Asian Ministerial Conference on 'Ending Violence against Children' in Colombo, Sri Lanka from June 23-24.

The Bangladesh delegation was led by State Minister for Social Welfare Farzana Sharmin at the conference, which was jointly organised by SAARC, UNICEF and the World Health Organization (WHO). 

Ministers and senior government officials from Bangladesh, Bhutan, Maldives, Pakistan and Sri Lanka, along with the SAARC Secretary General and the United Nations Secretary-General's Special Representative on Violence Against Children, among other high-level delegates, attended the conference.

Speaking on behalf of Bangladesh, State Minister Farzana Sharmin reaffirmed the government's unwavering commitment, saying that under the leadership of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, efforts are underway to ensure that every child in the country grows up in a safe, secure, dignified and empowered environment.

In her statement, the state minister highlighted Bangladesh's notable progress in child protection, including increased birth registration rates and a decline in violent disciplinary practices against children.

She also reiterated Bangladesh's commitment to strengthening efforts to eliminate child labour and child marriage.

The state minister further said that Bangladesh has achieved significant progress through stronger legislation, expansion of social protection programmes and community-based child protection systems. 

She also announced the country's national commitments to further strengthen child protection systems, enhance digital safety for children and expand emergency services for child victims of violence.

At the conference, Bangladesh formally expressed support for the "Colombo Call to Action to End Violence Against Children" and the "Framework for Strengthening Child Protection Systems."

Through this, Bangladesh reaffirmed that child protection systems must be proactive, inclusive and accessible to every child regardless of social, economic or geographic status.

The state minister reiterated that Bangladesh will continue to work closely with regional and international partners to strengthen child protection systems and ensure a safer future for all children.

Secretary of the Ministry of Women and Children Affairs Yasmeen Parveen and Director of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Mahfuza Sultana also attended the conference.