Parliament, UNICEF boost child protection drive

The Parliamentary Caucus on Child Rights will work in collaboration with UNICEF to enhance the protection of children’s rights in Bangladesh, Deputy Speaker Barrister Kayser Kamal said.

He made the remarks during a courtesy meeting with a UNICEF delegation led by Social Policy Manager Hasina Begum at the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban in the capital on Thursday.

“A caucus will be formed comprising the chairpersons of relevant parliamentary standing committees and members of parliament from both the treasury and opposition benches to safeguard children’s interests and formulate child-friendly policies,” he said.

He expressed hope that the caucus would play a significant role in parliamentary discussions on child rights and help secure increased budget allocations for the sector.

The Deputy Speaker also noted that Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has shown strong sensitivity towards child rights issues and has already directed that children be allowed to observe parliamentary proceedings from the gallery.

The UNICEF delegation informed the Deputy Speaker that they had succeeded in including 10 key child rights priorities—covering health, education, and protection—in the election manifestos of several political parties. They also appreciated government steps taken to address the ongoing measles situation.

The meeting discussed broader issues including child-friendly policy development, enhanced social protection, increased budget support, and future cooperation between UNICEF and Parliament.