Children’s rights can be best protected thru’ education, healthcare: Envoy

Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Bangladesh to the UN Masud Bin Momen has said Bangladesh believes that rights of the children can be best protected by ensuring their education and healthcare, among others.

“Our government has been working relentlessly to deliver the required services to children even at the far-flung areas,” he said.

The Ambassador was addressing the General Debate of the third committee of the 73rd Session of the UNGA on ‘Promotion and protection of the rights of children’ at the UN headquarters on Wednesday, said a press release on Friday.

He said the government of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is committed to the wellbeing of women and girls particularly.

“Next year we shall be observing the 30th anniversary of the Convention on the Rights of the Child. At this important juncture we need to review what the international community has done so far and what more needs to be done in implementing the SDGs related to children,” said Ambassador Momen.

He said their vision impaired students are receiving braille books. “We are extending education services to the Rohingya children in the camps in Cox’s Bazar. This has been duly noted in the report of the Secretary-General,” he said.

Due to government’s determined efforts in increasing social awareness and ensuring law enforcement, child marriage is gradually reducing, said the Ambassador.

He said Bangladesh has developed action plans which focus on access to information for children and adolescents about sexual and reproductive health rights and services. 

As the original proponent, Bangladesh expected the Migration Compact to be the guiding documentfor protecting the rights of migrant and refugee children and for guarding against trafficking in persons, he said.

“In our continued effort to address violence and oppression against women and girls, we have established One-Stop Crisis Centersall over the country; we have set up many other facilities including Victim Support Centres, National Toll free 24/7 helpline, Mobile Apps and a national database,” he added.

Source: unb