National seminar on ‘Rights of Child Domestic Workers at Risk: Possible way Forward’

BSAF organized a national seminar on ‘Rights of Child Domestic Workers at Risk: Possible way Forward’ on 30 December 2013 at Mahbub Kabir Hall of BIAM Foundation, Dhaka. The honorable State Minister from the Ministry of Social Welfare, Advocate Promode Mankin, M.P. was present as cheif guest while Mr. Mahmudul Kabir, Country Director of Terre des Hommes – Netherlands was present as special guest. A total of 43 participants from NGOs, INGOs, NGO networks, lawyers, civil society members, and media took part in the seminar. The presentation of keynote paper was followed by an open discussion. The participants put their comments on the paper and forwarded recommendations.Major Recommendation
Updated database of child domestic workers; Inclusion of child domestic work in the hazardous job list; Compulsory registration and inspection system for child domestic worker; Initiate a mechanism for urban child domestic workers’ education; Initiate code of conduct for employers also has to in place; Enact law for domestic child workers; Ensure implementation of National Plan of Action of NCLEP; Allocate allowance for child domestic work; Individual budgetary allocation for children to mitigate this problem; Ward or union based IGA activities by non government and government initiative to protect poor parents’ tendency to send their children to the cities for better future; To create awareness for safe environment for domestic child workers through campaign materials.; Ensure mid day meal in school to prevent drop out in the poverty ridden areas ;increase social safety net program for child domestic workers’ families

National Seminar on the Implementation of Optional Protocol to UNCRC on the Sale of Children, Child Pornography and Child Prostitution
BSAF organized a National Seminar on Optional Protocol on Sale of Children, Child Pornography and Child Prostituion on 30th June at the Mahboob Kabir Hall of BIAM Foundation. Honorable State Minister of Ministry of Women and Children Affairs, Ms. Meher Afroze Chumki, MP was present at the seminar as chief guest while Mr. Mahmudul Kabir, Country Director, Terre des Hommes-Netherlands, was present as special guest of honor. The seminar discussed the situation of child pornography, sale of children and child prostitution based on a keynote paper presented by Mr. Abdulla al Mamun, PM, Manusher Jonno Foundation. Different level stakeholders from INGOs, NGOs, media, academician attended the meeting and share their comments on the context of the seminar.
Major Recommendation
Establishment of Interministrial coordination for effective implementation of OPSC; Establishement of separate ministry or directorate and a Child Commission will accelerate implementation of OPSC, UNCRC and other rights of the children; To reduce internal trafficking a mechanism of registration under local government authority in the native place of children and destination can be be introduced and practiced.;; Law enforcing agencies should be equipped with technological knowledge as well as cyber law, pornography act and other relevant laws; liDomestic Work by children should be recognized by law and included in the hazardous job list. Conduct massive awareness building campaign to protect them from sexual and other exploitation; Stop bnded child labor in fish drying ship breaking industry. conduct campaign for creating awareness against bonded child labor as well as advocacy with the government to take action; many children involved with prostitution have valid papers. So conduct consultation with the beneficiary of child prostitution, aware them or bring them under legal action.