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Published : 24 Mar 2025, 01:56 PM
The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) has welcomed the interim government's decision to establish separate courts for children.
In a press release on Sunday, the agency said that this is an important step towards protecting children’s rights, meeting the needs of every child who comes into contact with the law, and ensuring a child-friendly justice system.
Calling the decision "groundbreaking", UNICEF said that the decision reaffirms the Bangladesh government's commitment to implementing the Children Act, 2013, which was formulated in light of international standards, including the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC).
UNICEF Representative in Bangladesh Rana Flowers said, "In many cases, when a child needs support under the social welfare system, they are instead brought to criminal trial. In that context, this is a step forward in ensuring that a child-friendly system is available and that every opportunity for rehabilitation is utilised. This is a system that will work towards rehabilitation, not punishment."
“This initiative is the result of the bold demands made by young people in the summer of 2024 for justice and a more just system,” she said.
UNICEF will support the Bangladesh government to ensure that children and young people are not arbitrarily detained or separated from their families, Flowers said.
“Instead, there is a system in place where their age is taken into account. Trained personnel are deployed to support them - where rehabilitation is the main goal.”
The statement added that the establishment of separate courts for children is crucial to ensuring the dignified treatment of children who come in contact with the law. These courts will provide specialised legal and social services for children, with an emphasis on rehabilitation rather than punishment.
They will also ensure that the judicial process is conducted in a child-sensitive environment, with trained judges and legal professionals.
UNICEF says it is committed to working with the government, judiciary, civil society and young people to support the implementation of the reforms process in Bangladesh.
As part of this, the agency will support the establishment of the children’s courts, train legal professionals and strengthen social service systems to ensure the protection and services of children.
