Govt to triple social workers to protect children’s rights

The government will recruit 6,000 new social workers to take the tally to 9,000 in a bid to strengthen the workforce for the protection of children.

This ground-breaking commitment comes after a comprehensive national household survey found that 4.5 crore Bangladeshi children under the age of 15 — a shocking 89 percent — are regularly subjected to various types of physical and psychological violence at home.

The announcement to increase the number of social workers by 200 percent was made at the first-ever “National symposium on child protection in Bangladesh” jointly organised by UNICEF and the European Union in Dhaka on Monday.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina gave a video message emphasising the importance of making child protection services available at the community level.

“The aim of our government is to build a professional social services workforce that enhances efficient delivery of child protection services such as Child Helpline 1098, Child Protection Allowances, and community-based outreach services involving volunteers, adolescent children, and community people so that no child is left behind,” said the Prime Minister.

In Bangladesh, over 30lakh children are trapped in child labour of which 13 lakh is in hazardous forms of child labour. One in five children does not complete primary school. Nearly half of children do not have a birth registration. Over 100,000 children are in institutional care and lack family support. One in every two girls is made to marry while still a child. Also, lakhs of children live on the street.

“Social workers reach deep into communities where children need them the most. I congratulate the Government of Bangladesh for this dramatic increase in the number of social workers to help more children to benefit from critical professional care,” said Sheldon Yett, UNICEF Representative to Bangladesh.

The symposium brought together the government, civil society, experts and international partners in discussions on the social service workforce, early identification of risks and interventions, the rights and needs of children with disabilities, and the child protection legal framework.

“Children hold a significant potential to accelerate Bangladesh’s development. Our event today is a unique opportunity towards ensuring children are protected from violence, abuse and exploitation, in particular the most vulnerable children and children with disabilities. The EU remains committed to supporting the Government to strengthen child protection systems in Bangladesh,” said the Head of the EU delegation to Bangladesh, Ambassador Charles Whiteley.

The event was also attended by Fazilatun Nessa Indira, Minister of Women and Children Affairs, Zahid Maleque, Minister of Health and Family Welfare, Nuruzzaman Ahmed, Minister of Social Welfare, Tazul Islam, Minister of Local Government, Rural Development and Co-operatives, and Justice Sheikh Hassan Arif of the High Court Division, who is also a member of the Supreme Special Committee on Child Rights.