Did you know, according to a survey by UNICEF and Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics, 82.3% children (1-14) in Bangladesh experienced psychological and physical assault just in the month of March back in 2015? Even after two years, children are still falling prey to this phenomenon and some are even carrying the scars of torture into their later lives.
While many of us feel a great deal of empathy for the abused children, there are some of us who are acting upon their empathy and trying to ‘Save the Children.’ Laila Khondokar, Director-Child Rights Governance and Child Protection of Save the Children stresses on the fact that children are being killed for trivial issues like, working for ex-employer’s competitor, alleged theft of cell phones, dispute over property among adult family members and what not.
According to her, there are few cases of child abuse which surface to the public through media. However, she believes some groups of children remain vulnerable than others. Trafficked children, children of sex worker and refugees as well as those affected with AIDS, still face huge social stigma as well as discrimination. These children need extra love and acceptance from people to feel included.
The recent Rohingya catastrophe is the perfect scenario to put theory into practice. This is the time when we need an attitudinal shift in the way we view children’s safety if we are to protect them from violence. ‘’Identifying children who are separated from their families is a priority for Save the Children’s team on the ground,’’ reveals Mark Pierce, Country Director, Save the Children.
Save the children is supporting unaccompanied and separated children in Cox’s Bazar district. They are setting up two camps where children receive 24 hour support and protection. Meanwhile, the search for their lost parents is still going on.
As a part of their global campaign to reach every last child in Bangladesh, Save the Children built an initiative- ‘Bridging the Gap.’ This initiative aims to bring young people, who have the opportunities to work towards improving the future for those who don’t. With a project like Bridging the Gap, Save the Children aims to curb the widening gap between the privileged and the underprivileged.
Photographs from Save the Children