Dhaka:The 13th parliamentary caucus on Child Rights convened its first meeting to deliberate on the pivotal role lawmakers play in upholding national and international commitments to child rights. The discussions included ensuring child rights safety, formulating child-friendly laws and policies, budget allocation, and accountability.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, Deputy Speaker Barrister Kayser Kamal, who is also the patron of the caucus, attended the meeting as the chief guest, while caucus president Shirin Sultana MP presided over the session. Various proposals were tabled regarding the strengthening of parliamentary initiatives, conducting policy discussions, enhancing oversight, and engaging development partners and stakeholders.
The Deputy Speaker underscored the necessity of proactive roles by relevant stakeholders and lawmakers to protect child rights. He emphasized the importance of enforcing existing laws related to children's rights and protection, while advocating for short-term and long-term action plans and coordination among laws, budgets, and stakeholders.
Barrister Kamal also highlighted the significance of government-led publicity and awareness campaigns to increase public consciousness about child rights. He stressed the need for training and motivation of grassroots-level workers and advocated for non-discriminatory practices in ensuring child rights, irrespective of political affiliations or social classes.
The Deputy Speaker called for unity among Parliament and stakeholders under the leadership of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman to build a humane Bangladesh, and emphasized the need for reviewing and amending proposed laws related to child rights. He assured the full cooperation of Parliament in these endeavors and urged the executive branch to expedite the caucus's activities impartially.
Caucus president Shirin Sultana MP expressed her respects to national leaders and martyrs of the Liberation War and emphasized the importance of moral, human values, and religious education for children. She called for effective coordination among stakeholders to ensure children's protection and rights.
The meeting saw participation from caucus members, representatives from the National Girl Child Advocacy Forum, UNICEF Bangladesh, the Centre for Policy Dialogue, and other organizations, along with officials from the Ministry of Women and Children Affairs and the Bangladesh Parliament Secretariat.