What happened?
On the evening of 15 November 2007, Cyclone Sidr – a category four cyclonic storm – hit the low-lying and densely-populated coast of Bangladesh. The cyclone ravaged 30 southern districts in both Barisal and Khulna divisions. Hundreds perished as buildings collapsed in the 240 km per hour winds. Thousands of others drowned in tidal surges that were over 15 feet high in many villages.
The cyclone caused:
3,363 deaths
55,282 injured people
1.5 million damaged or destroyed homes
2.5 million acres of damaged cropland
Through loss of life, home and livelihood, the 8.9 million people affected by the cyclone continue to face lives of increased poverty.
UNICEF’s response
Immediately following the cyclone, UNICEF worked with Save the Children to establish 220 safe spaces where child victims received food and safe water and had access to psycho-social support and recreation.
UNICEF also provided a wide range of emergency supplies, including:
Safe drinking water for over 100,000 families
1 million packets of oral rehydration solution to treat diarrhoea
100,000 blankets, 30,000 tarpaulins and 40,000 plastic sheets
99,000 winter jackets for children aged five and below
Family kits – containing clothes, cooking utensils and basic household items – for 32,000 families
Longer-term support for cyclone victims has included:
Materials and support to build 42 transitional schools, which can be used as cyclone shelters during future storms
Construction of almost 30,000 latrines
Nutritional supplements for more than 140,000 children and over 50,000 women
Cash transfers and social support for 2000 orphaned and vulnerable children and their foster families.
শনিবার, ৫ ডিসেম্বর, ২০০৯
Criminal responsibility
Criminal responsibility
In 2004, following advocacy efforts by UNICEF, the minimum age of criminal responsibility was raised from seven to nine. Enforcement remains difficult because many children have no proof of their age due to low levels of birth registration.
Legislative reform
UNICEF supports government efforts to harmonize domestic legislation with the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) and other international standards. As part of this undertaking, a new Children’s Code will legislate all CRC rights and principles not found in other national legislation. The new legislation will cover the rights of all children to health, education, participation and protection and enable enforcement of the CRC in Bangladesh.
UNICEF has also supported the Government to amend the 1974 Children Act – which covers children in conflict with the law and children in need of protection – in line with the CRC. UNICEF is advocating for the establishment of an independent body or commissioner for child rights.
Juvenile justice
UNICEF is working towards a child-friendly justice system that diverts children in contact with the law to appropriate social support services, instead of depriving them of liberty in detention centres.
To sensitize the legal and law enforcement communities to international child rights and standards of justice for children, UNICEF supports multisectoral training for judges, magistrates, police officers, probation officers, lawyers, social workers and staff in institutions. UNICEF assists the Government to coordinate UN, NGO and government partners working for justice for children.
In 2004, following advocacy efforts by UNICEF, the minimum age of criminal responsibility was raised from seven to nine. Enforcement remains difficult because many children have no proof of their age due to low levels of birth registration.
Legislative reform
UNICEF supports government efforts to harmonize domestic legislation with the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) and other international standards. As part of this undertaking, a new Children’s Code will legislate all CRC rights and principles not found in other national legislation. The new legislation will cover the rights of all children to health, education, participation and protection and enable enforcement of the CRC in Bangladesh.
UNICEF has also supported the Government to amend the 1974 Children Act – which covers children in conflict with the law and children in need of protection – in line with the CRC. UNICEF is advocating for the establishment of an independent body or commissioner for child rights.
Juvenile justice
UNICEF is working towards a child-friendly justice system that diverts children in contact with the law to appropriate social support services, instead of depriving them of liberty in detention centres.
To sensitize the legal and law enforcement communities to international child rights and standards of justice for children, UNICEF supports multisectoral training for judges, magistrates, police officers, probation officers, lawyers, social workers and staff in institutions. UNICEF assists the Government to coordinate UN, NGO and government partners working for justice for children.
UNICEF supports the Government’s programme for universal birth registration in Bangladesh. Since 2006, with the passage of the Birth and Death Registr
UNICEF supports the Government’s programme for universal birth registration in Bangladesh. Since 2006, with the passage of the Birth and Death Registration Act, children born in Bangladesh must be registered with a birth certificate.
Technical support
UNICEF provides technical assistance and advocacy support to the national birth registration drive. Birth registration is currently manual and slow. Efforts are underway to computerize the process and build a more efficient national registration system.
Increasing public awareness
Media campaigns raise public awareness about the importance of birth registration. Teachers and health care providers reinforce the campaigns, explaining that birth certificates help children access health and education services, while providing protection against child marriage, labour, trafficking and other abuses.
Expansion
According to the Government of Bangladesh, almost 45 per cent of people are now registered with birth certificates, though the percentage of the child population with birth registration is not known. Combining birth registration with school admission is increasing the scope of the campaign. UNICEF is supporting accelerated registration of the most vulnerable and excluded children, including children living in the streets and in brothels.
Download the Birth registration factsheet.
Technical support
UNICEF provides technical assistance and advocacy support to the national birth registration drive. Birth registration is currently manual and slow. Efforts are underway to computerize the process and build a more efficient national registration system.
Increasing public awareness
Media campaigns raise public awareness about the importance of birth registration. Teachers and health care providers reinforce the campaigns, explaining that birth certificates help children access health and education services, while providing protection against child marriage, labour, trafficking and other abuses.
Expansion
According to the Government of Bangladesh, almost 45 per cent of people are now registered with birth certificates, though the percentage of the child population with birth registration is not known. Combining birth registration with school admission is increasing the scope of the campaign. UNICEF is supporting accelerated registration of the most vulnerable and excluded children, including children living in the streets and in brothels.
Download the Birth registration factsheet.
Children at risk
Children at risk
UNICEF’s work to protect children at risk includes legislative and institutional reform, advocacy on the rights and requirements of vulnerable children, capacity building of child protection services and piloting of child protection systems.
A national protection system
UNICEF is advocating for a national child protection system to support all vulnerable children, including:
orphans
children living on the streets
working children
children in conflict with the law
victims of trafficking, violence, abuse and exploitation.
The system will link together all organizations and institutions (public and private) that support children at risk. Outreach activities will identify different groups of vulnerable children and help them access services for health, shelter, education, social and legal assistance.
To support the network, UNICEF is facilitating the development of a national child protection information management system and the design of national social services training.
Community-based care
UNICEF is piloting a number of community-based child protection systems.
Children orphaned or made vulnerable by Cyclone Sidr have been fostered by relatives or other families in their local communities. The 2,000 foster families receive monthly cash transfers and are visited every month by government social workers.
199 former camel jockeys have been successfully reunited with their families. The reintegration programme for the camel jockeys will serve as a model for future community-based care initiatives.
UNICEF is working to establish a protection system for Rohingya refugee children in Cox’s Bazar in collaboration with UNHCR.
Institutional reform
UNICEF is developing minimum care standards for institutions that care for orphans, children in contact with the law, and victims of trafficking and abuse. This has included training for institution staff in child-friendly and gender-appropriated care.
UNICEF supports institutionalization only as a last resort and is seeking to decrease the number of children living in institutions through legal reform and alternative care policies, including the development of a separate juvenile justice code.
Drop-in centres for children living on the street
UNICEF supports reintegration services for over 5,000 children living on the streets in six city corporations. Children in drop-in centres receive basic education, counselling, life-skills training and job placement, as well as food and shelter. Family support and community outreach activities encourage parents and community members to interact with the children and help them readjust to life in the general community.
Support for camel jockeys
Since 2005, UNICEF has worked closely with the Government of the United Arab Emirates to repatriate 168 trafficked camel jockeys and provide support for a further 31 boys who returned independently to Bangladesh. The children lived in shelters on their return, where they received medical, educational and psycho-social support. The children then moved back to their communities, where support continues to be available through community care committees. The committees also work to raise awareness about trafficking and protect other children from human traffickers.
Uniting against trafficking
UNICEF is working with the Government of India and the Government of Bangladesh to prevent cross border human trafficking and develop a uniform system for the rescue, recovery, repatriation and reintegration of trafficking victims. UNICEF works to repatriate and reintegrate children who have been trafficked to India for sexual or commercial exploitation.
UNICEF’s work to protect children at risk includes legislative and institutional reform, advocacy on the rights and requirements of vulnerable children, capacity building of child protection services and piloting of child protection systems.
A national protection system
UNICEF is advocating for a national child protection system to support all vulnerable children, including:
orphans
children living on the streets
working children
children in conflict with the law
victims of trafficking, violence, abuse and exploitation.
The system will link together all organizations and institutions (public and private) that support children at risk. Outreach activities will identify different groups of vulnerable children and help them access services for health, shelter, education, social and legal assistance.
To support the network, UNICEF is facilitating the development of a national child protection information management system and the design of national social services training.
Community-based care
UNICEF is piloting a number of community-based child protection systems.
Children orphaned or made vulnerable by Cyclone Sidr have been fostered by relatives or other families in their local communities. The 2,000 foster families receive monthly cash transfers and are visited every month by government social workers.
199 former camel jockeys have been successfully reunited with their families. The reintegration programme for the camel jockeys will serve as a model for future community-based care initiatives.
UNICEF is working to establish a protection system for Rohingya refugee children in Cox’s Bazar in collaboration with UNHCR.
Institutional reform
UNICEF is developing minimum care standards for institutions that care for orphans, children in contact with the law, and victims of trafficking and abuse. This has included training for institution staff in child-friendly and gender-appropriated care.
UNICEF supports institutionalization only as a last resort and is seeking to decrease the number of children living in institutions through legal reform and alternative care policies, including the development of a separate juvenile justice code.
Drop-in centres for children living on the street
UNICEF supports reintegration services for over 5,000 children living on the streets in six city corporations. Children in drop-in centres receive basic education, counselling, life-skills training and job placement, as well as food and shelter. Family support and community outreach activities encourage parents and community members to interact with the children and help them readjust to life in the general community.
Support for camel jockeys
Since 2005, UNICEF has worked closely with the Government of the United Arab Emirates to repatriate 168 trafficked camel jockeys and provide support for a further 31 boys who returned independently to Bangladesh. The children lived in shelters on their return, where they received medical, educational and psycho-social support. The children then moved back to their communities, where support continues to be available through community care committees. The committees also work to raise awareness about trafficking and protect other children from human traffickers.
Uniting against trafficking
UNICEF is working with the Government of India and the Government of Bangladesh to prevent cross border human trafficking and develop a uniform system for the rescue, recovery, repatriation and reintegration of trafficking victims. UNICEF works to repatriate and reintegrate children who have been trafficked to India for sexual or commercial exploitation.
UNICEF runs an adolescent empowerment project to help prevent child marriage, dowry and other forms of abuse and exploitation of adolescents, especial
UNICEF runs an adolescent empowerment project to help prevent child marriage, dowry and other forms of abuse and exploitation of adolescents, especially girls. The project targets 100,000 boys and girls, and their families and communities.
Peer education
In 28 districts across Bangladesh, UNICEF sponsors 2,580 adolescent centres, where trained adolescent leaders educate their peers about child rights, child marriage, reproductive health, gender, HIV/AIDS, dowry, and violence. Sessions on critical thinking and communication encourage adolescents to build on their new knowledge by speaking to parents about the issues that affect them. The centres also provide a safe place for adolescents to socialize and discuss their concerns.
Participation
The centres run various cultural and sporting activities. Encouraging girls to play sport helps address gender disparities, boosting girls’ mobility and participation in community activities. Through some of the centres, adolescent girls can access training in small business management and livelihood trades, such as garment manufacture. Increasing the economic worth of adolescents strengthens arguments against child marriage and dowry.
A supportive community
Parents and community members participate in sessions at the centres that are linked to the adolescents’ programmes. These adults meet regularly with the adolescents, helping to build a support network for the teenagers. Adults and adolescents work together to prevent child rights abuses in the local community.
The Bangladesh Shishu (Children’s) Academy has adopted training modules and teaching aids from the adolescent project, meaning that UNICEF interventions now reach adolescents in all 64 districts of Bangladesh, helping to build a culture of female empowerment and delayed marriage.
Peer education
In 28 districts across Bangladesh, UNICEF sponsors 2,580 adolescent centres, where trained adolescent leaders educate their peers about child rights, child marriage, reproductive health, gender, HIV/AIDS, dowry, and violence. Sessions on critical thinking and communication encourage adolescents to build on their new knowledge by speaking to parents about the issues that affect them. The centres also provide a safe place for adolescents to socialize and discuss their concerns.
Participation
The centres run various cultural and sporting activities. Encouraging girls to play sport helps address gender disparities, boosting girls’ mobility and participation in community activities. Through some of the centres, adolescent girls can access training in small business management and livelihood trades, such as garment manufacture. Increasing the economic worth of adolescents strengthens arguments against child marriage and dowry.
A supportive community
Parents and community members participate in sessions at the centres that are linked to the adolescents’ programmes. These adults meet regularly with the adolescents, helping to build a support network for the teenagers. Adults and adolescents work together to prevent child rights abuses in the local community.
The Bangladesh Shishu (Children’s) Academy has adopted training modules and teaching aids from the adolescent project, meaning that UNICEF interventions now reach adolescents in all 64 districts of Bangladesh, helping to build a culture of female empowerment and delayed marriage.
Because maternal and child nutrition are inextricable linked
Because maternal and child nutrition are inextricable linked, UNICEF seeks to improve nutrition across the entire lifecycle – from infancy, through childhood, adolescence, and the child-bearing years.
Vitamin A
UNICEF works with the Government to deliver vitamin A supplements to all children between the ages of one and five. Vitamin A boosts the immune system, strengthening resistance to diarrhoea, acute respiratory infection, measles and other childhood diseases.
Children receive the supplement twice a year through a nationwide immunization campaign or when they visit health clinics and outreach centres for their childhood vaccinations. 94 per cent of children under the age of five have now received vitamin A supplements. UNICEF also supports vitamin A fortification of cooking oil.
Deworming and nutrition advice
Vaccination campaigns provide a platform to deliver other nutritional services, including deworming, and the promotion of breastfeeding and sound eating habits. Further advice on infant and child feeding is available at public health facilities where UNICEF trains staff in nutrition counselling.
© UNICEF Bangladesh/2006/Naser Siddique
A health worker explains the importance of a varied diet to women in Rangpur, Rajshahi division.
Salt iodization
For two decades, UNICEF has supported salt-iodization as means of preventing iodine deficiency disorders. Iodine deficiency causes goiter, birth defects, deafness and paralysis, and hampers children’s mental and physical development. Although 84 per cent of households now consume iodized salt (up from 70 per cent in 2004), the quality of the salt is often unreliable. UNICEF’s current programme provides monitoring and technical assistance to salt manufacturers to ensure proper iodization and works to increase public awareness of the importance of consuming adequately iodized salt.
Preventing anaemia
To address high levels of anaemia among pre-school children, adolescent girls and mothers in the Chittagong Hill Tracts and selected low-income areas, UNICEF works to encourage families to eat foods rich in iron and folic acid. The programme also provides flavourless powders of iron, folic acid and other micronutrients that can be sprinkled over meals. Adolescents in the community receive deworming and iron folate tablets.
Emergency nutrition
Because good nutrition depends on robust food security, UNICEF provides emergency food supplements to women and children
Vitamin A
UNICEF works with the Government to deliver vitamin A supplements to all children between the ages of one and five. Vitamin A boosts the immune system, strengthening resistance to diarrhoea, acute respiratory infection, measles and other childhood diseases.
Children receive the supplement twice a year through a nationwide immunization campaign or when they visit health clinics and outreach centres for their childhood vaccinations. 94 per cent of children under the age of five have now received vitamin A supplements. UNICEF also supports vitamin A fortification of cooking oil.
Deworming and nutrition advice
Vaccination campaigns provide a platform to deliver other nutritional services, including deworming, and the promotion of breastfeeding and sound eating habits. Further advice on infant and child feeding is available at public health facilities where UNICEF trains staff in nutrition counselling.
© UNICEF Bangladesh/2006/Naser Siddique
A health worker explains the importance of a varied diet to women in Rangpur, Rajshahi division.
Salt iodization
For two decades, UNICEF has supported salt-iodization as means of preventing iodine deficiency disorders. Iodine deficiency causes goiter, birth defects, deafness and paralysis, and hampers children’s mental and physical development. Although 84 per cent of households now consume iodized salt (up from 70 per cent in 2004), the quality of the salt is often unreliable. UNICEF’s current programme provides monitoring and technical assistance to salt manufacturers to ensure proper iodization and works to increase public awareness of the importance of consuming adequately iodized salt.
Preventing anaemia
To address high levels of anaemia among pre-school children, adolescent girls and mothers in the Chittagong Hill Tracts and selected low-income areas, UNICEF works to encourage families to eat foods rich in iron and folic acid. The programme also provides flavourless powders of iron, folic acid and other micronutrients that can be sprinkled over meals. Adolescents in the community receive deworming and iron folate tablets.
Emergency nutrition
Because good nutrition depends on robust food security, UNICEF provides emergency food supplements to women and children
UNICEF integrates issues of HIV/AIDS throughout its programmes, from education for adolescents to training of health workers.
UNICEF integrates issues of HIV/AIDS throughout its programmes, from education for adolescents to training of health workers.
HIV education
Because Bangladesh is a low prevalence country, UNICEF focuses on increasing access to HIV education and raising public awareness of HIV/AIDS. HIV/AIDS is one of four key issues being covered in a UNICEF-supported life-skills pilot project for secondary school students in ten districts. Children in adolescent centres and learning centres for working children also learn about HIV. UNICEF supported the Government to develop the National Communication Strategy for HIV 2005-2010.
Prevention of parent to child transmission
UNICEF is piloting a prevention of parent to child transmission (PPTCT) project for HIV-positive pregnant women and their families. Selected health facility staff are trained and equipped to provide antiretroviral prophylaxis, voluntary counselling, testing services, and care and support for infected women, their spouses and children. Thanks to increased HIV/AIDS education, 48 per cent of women now understand that mothers can transmit HIV to their babies during pregnancy, at delivery and when breastfeeding.
Drop-in centres
Through 146 drop-in centres in 44 districts, UNICEF has been supporting HIV/AIDS prevention activities among those most at risk of contracting the virus: injecting drug users, mobile populations, men who have sex with men, sex workers and their clients, and children forced into commercial sexual exploitation.
The centres provide health care (including treatment for sexually-transmitted infections), crisis shelter, counselling, health education, resting and recreation facilities, and referral and outreach services. The centres distributed over 6.6 million condoms, 2 million syringes and 1.3 million extra needles between January and September 2008. UNICEF will progressively withdraw from the drop-in centres as the Government of Bangladesh takes on full responsibility for this project in 2009.
HIV education
Because Bangladesh is a low prevalence country, UNICEF focuses on increasing access to HIV education and raising public awareness of HIV/AIDS. HIV/AIDS is one of four key issues being covered in a UNICEF-supported life-skills pilot project for secondary school students in ten districts. Children in adolescent centres and learning centres for working children also learn about HIV. UNICEF supported the Government to develop the National Communication Strategy for HIV 2005-2010.
Prevention of parent to child transmission
UNICEF is piloting a prevention of parent to child transmission (PPTCT) project for HIV-positive pregnant women and their families. Selected health facility staff are trained and equipped to provide antiretroviral prophylaxis, voluntary counselling, testing services, and care and support for infected women, their spouses and children. Thanks to increased HIV/AIDS education, 48 per cent of women now understand that mothers can transmit HIV to their babies during pregnancy, at delivery and when breastfeeding.
Drop-in centres
Through 146 drop-in centres in 44 districts, UNICEF has been supporting HIV/AIDS prevention activities among those most at risk of contracting the virus: injecting drug users, mobile populations, men who have sex with men, sex workers and their clients, and children forced into commercial sexual exploitation.
The centres provide health care (including treatment for sexually-transmitted infections), crisis shelter, counselling, health education, resting and recreation facilities, and referral and outreach services. The centres distributed over 6.6 million condoms, 2 million syringes and 1.3 million extra needles between January and September 2008. UNICEF will progressively withdraw from the drop-in centres as the Government of Bangladesh takes on full responsibility for this project in 2009.
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