The New Nation - Internet Edition

Staff Reporter

A team of 87 children of four organisations in Bangladesh prepared a child led alternative report for the first time which has been submitted to the Child Rights Committee of the United Nations.

As pioneers of the initiative, the children organised a discussion session at LGED building in the capital yesterday.

Children of Ichchey, Child Bridge,Vorer Alo- children organisations affiliated to Save The Children Sweden-Denmark along with National Children Task Force(NCTF) of Save the Children Australia prepared the report Amar Kotha Ami Boli (These are my words).

The children believe the report has been an effort to disseminate their point of view regarding the issues affecting their lives and hope that it will bring them some positive change in the long run.

As Bangladesh has signed and ratified the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Child (UNCRC) in 1990, the Bangladesh Government sends a report to CR committee after every five years to portray the child right situation in the country.

Along with this main report the United Nations also receives alternative reports from different people and organisations. Children are also encouraged to send their own alternative reports on the issue of child rights. This led the UN to realise the child rights situation in the country better.

The alternative report discussed about principles, civil rights, family environment, alternative care, primary health and welfare, education, leisure and recreational activities, special protection and many other issues related to children.

They collected information or comments through consultation session, questionnaire, advertisement, documentary etc. The report was made in participation of 12,225 children of 28 organisations through 138 publications and 7442 children through questionnaire. The children have collected secondary data from 648 reports from 123 publications and a video documentary. The children accommodated all information and comments through summarising them in the report.

After sharing the report, the children discussed the way forward. They decided to make a forum titled "Shisu Surokkha Andolon" for regular follow up of child rights issues in the country.