Ban hazardous jobs for children
Speakers urge govt at seminar
Staff Correspondent
Speakers at a seminar yesterday called on the government to safeguard the rights of the children in line with the Child Rights Convention of the United Nations.They also suggested enacting laws allowing for some risk-free work for the children and banning hazardous jobs for them. Bangladesh Legal Aid and Services Trust (BLAST) and Bangladesh Shishu Adhikar Forum (BSAF) jointly organised the seminar, 'Child rights related laws and policy-making affairs issue', at the Cirdap auditorium in the city. Justice AKM Sadeque was present as chief guest while Justice Noyemuddin Ahmed, vice-president of BLAST, presided over the seminar. The Child Rights Convention says a child means every human being below the age of 18, but different laws in the country are not consistent with the convention, the speakers pointed out. They said the government should play a more active role in ensuring birth registration for all to determine a child's age. Justice Sadeque said every child, whatever their background, has to be granted equal rights as a child. He said it is the responsibility of the state, family and the society to ensure the basic rights, including food, health and education, of the children. Justice Sadeque also called for taking proper measures to stop trafficking in children and women. Laws alone cannot help check it, he said, adding that regional coopeartion is a must for curbing the menace. S M Shawkat Ali, additional director, Women Affairs Directorate, said the government has a plan to set up a separate department for children. Muhammad Aszar Ali, director of BSAF, and Fazlul Haq, executive director of BLAST, also spoke.
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