Speakers for specific law to ensure rights of domestic help children

Staff Correspondent:

The representatives of government and non-governmental organizations have called for the formulation of well-defined laws on the rights and protection of children engaged in domestic work immediately.

Speaking at a dialogue in the city, they informed that about 40 percent of children are being abused in the country. “The children engaged in domestic work have to endure various forms of oppression, including constant beatings. Appropriate legislation can ensure the protection of such children,” they observed.

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) and development organizations – Action for Social Development (ASD), Shapla Neer, and Educo-Bangladesh jointly organized the dialogue titled ‘Necessity of a Well-Defined Law for the Rights and Protection of Children Engaged in Domestic Work.’

The dialogue was held in the conference room of the NHRC on Thursday with Md Hamidur Rahman, the program director of ASD, in the chair.

Chairman of the National Human Rights Commission Kamal Uddin Ahmed was present at the dialogue as the chief guest. Child protection expert Sarfuddin Khan delivered the main speech in the dialogue while NHRC member Selim Reza and Director Kazi Arfan Ashiq, Senior Assistant Secretary of the Ministry of Labor and Employment Khondkar Md. Nazmul Huda Shamim, Country Director of Shapla Neer Tamko Uchiyama, President of Child Rights Forum Mahbubul Haque, Deputy Director of NHRC Rabiul Islam, among others, spoke in the dialogue.

In his speech, NHRC chairman Kamal Uddin Ahmed said child labor is not acceptable anywhere in the world. “Therefore, the human dignity of children must be ensured by stopping child labor. If not, the question will arise as to whether we are citizens of a civilized society.”

He further said many children engaged in domestic work choose to commit suicide due to physical and mental abuse. Some have taken shelter in the sexual village. Even many are involved in various crimes. “Therefore, the government is working towards eliminating all hazardous child labor by 2025.”

He urged everyone to work to stop not only dangerous but all forms of child labor. Senior Assistant Secretary Khondkar Md. Nazmul Huda Shamim said that the Ministry of Labor is working to stop child labor across the country. “Our target is to build a child labor-free Bangladesh by 2025,” he said, adding that about 4 lakh children have already been removed from hazardous work under four projects.

He promised that the Ministry of Labor will provide support if the policymakers of the government take the initiative to enact a law to eliminate child labor. He emphasized the joint efforts of the government and development organizations to ensure the legal protection of children engaged in domestic work.

Hamidur Rahman said that in light of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), the government is committed to eliminating all forms of child labor by 2025. As part of the implementation of this commitment and declared commitment of the government, an up-to-date legislation and its successful implementation is required to ensure the rights and protection of the significant number of child domestic workers in the country.