The New Nation - Internet Edition

Staff Reporter

Together with Working Children (TWC) urged the Government to enact separate law to protect the rights of working children in Bangladesh.

"It is impossible to protect their fundamental rights in non-conventional sectors until they are brought under a concrete law. The law should also cove the changing attitude of employers in those sectors," said TWC members at a press briefing held yesterday in the capital.

Together with Working Children (TWC), a network of six NGOs (Partner of Save The Children, Sweden-Denmark, SCSD) organised the press briefing, following a seminar on 'employers maltreatment to working children in non- conventional sectors.'

It was mentioned in the press briefing that approximately 74 leks children in Bangladesh, within 5 to 17 years of age, earn their livings. Among them, about 93 per cent work in non-conventional sectors, where they are mostly deprived of all fundamental rights.

"Unfortunately, existing children rights protection law don't cover the non-conventional sector children workers, which results into frequent maltreatment, mental and physical tortures and harassments," said the speakers in the briefing.

It is time to form a separate law, on the basis of United Nation Children Rights Convention, speakers added.

CPD Executive Director Moslema Bari, Mahfuza Begum, General Secretary CP Fajlul Haq Chaudhury and Tahmina Jesmin were among the main speakers in the press briefing.