‘Protect child rights, stop trafficking’

At an orientation course on protecting children's rights and creating awareness in the town yesterday, they vowed to play their due role to ensure rights children irrespective of their social status.

It was jointly organised by World Vision, Bangladesh, an NGO and some community-based organisations including Swadesh, Bangladesh Vision, CDOW (Coastal Development Organisation for Women) and GDF (Gender Development Forum).

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World Vision's Satkhira chapter Manager Peter Costa presided over the meeting while Satkhira Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Ilias was the chief guest.

Satkhira Police Superintendent Abdur Rahim, Pourasava Chairman Sheikh Ashraful Haque, Civil Surgeon Dr Md Abu Aziz Al Monsur and Sadar Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) were special guests.

It was addressed by, among others, journalist Kalyan Bannerjee, Agardari UP Chairman Abdur Rahman, Advocate Farida Akhtar Banu and Bakal High School Headmaster Mahfuzur Rahman. They stressed the need for united efforts by the government, socio-cultural organisations, NGOs and civil society members to protect rights of children and resist child trafficking.

They stressed education for all, particularly the poor, and poverty alleviation to check child trafficking and ensure their rights. The meeting resolved to chalk out a joint porgramme to create awareness among the people.

They called upon government officials to play their due role to safeguard children's rights in line with the Child Rights Convention of the United Nations.

New laws should be enacted to ban hazardous jobs for children, they suggested.