On Tuesday, the annual advocacy meeting was held with law enforcement agencies and policy-making partners to prevent child marriage of working children and street children at the head office of Ahsania Mission in Dhanmondi, Dhaka.
The meeting, organized by the Drop-in-Center (DIC) under the Education Sector of Dhaka Ahsania Mission, was attended by Dr. Mohammad Abu Yusuf, Secretary, Ministry of Social Welfare, as the chief guest.
He said that street and working children are at risk of child marriage, sexual abuse and exploitation. These children live on the streets in a vulnerable condition.
Street children and working children are living with the burden of severe trauma, accusations and stigma. In this case, their health is affected the most.
In his speech, Dhaka Ahsania Mission President Professor Dr. Golam Rahman said that the rate of child marriage is high in rural societies. If the government works strongly through various NGOs and organizations, it will be easier to prevent child marriage.
The speakers said that child marriage is a long-standing problem in Bangladesh. According to UNICEF, 50% of girls in the country get married before the age of 18, which affects their education, health and rights. There are more working children in urban areas of Bangladesh. A large part of them are victims of child marriage in Dhaka city.
In addition, DIG of Bangladesh Police Dr. AKM Iqbal Hossain, Vice President of DAM Dr. SM Khalilur Rahman and Dr. Mohammad Khalilullah were present as special guests at the event. DAM Executive Director (Programs) KM Zahiduzzaman delivered the welcome speech.
Md. Moniruzzaman, Joint Director of the Education Sector of DAM, presented the key-note paper on the progress, learning, opportunities and obstacles of the DIC project's child marriage prevention activities.
Representatives of government and non-government organizations and people from different professions and groups were also present.
