Child rights week 2021 is being celebrated with the slogan ‘Invest for children & build prosperous world’. Today’s child is the future of tomorrow. The child of today will play a role in the overall development of this country and the whole world in the future.

Children cannot play a role in the election of people's representatives. They don’t have the right to vote. But they have to rely on the people's representatives to implement and ensure their rights. Children have very few opportunities to discuss about their rights with people’s representatives. As a part of celebrating Child Rights Week 2021, the opportunity of child hearing had been arranged by LRP 43 to create the opportunity for this exchange of views. Along with that, advocacy and awareness meetings on child marriage were also organized.

The children raised various issues in front of the chairman of Union Parishad. Children shared problems of their community and claimed for repairing roads and proper birth registration to child marriage.

Shamima (13-year-old) one of the participants, said, “Me, along with other Child Forum members requested to the UP (Union Parishad) chairman to repair the 4 most important roads of our community as during monsoon, it becomes muddy & broken. It creates problems for us to go to school. Even we can’t go to hospital due to the condition of the road. We also requested him to take proper steps to prevent river erosion. The chairman of Union Parishad assured us to take the initiative through LGED (Local Government Engineering Department) in this regard. The chairman ensured that very soon the repair work of that road will be started”.

Amin (13-year-old) added, “The chairman assured us that the issue of road repairing will included get priority in the ADP (Annual Development Plan) in the next financial year. The chairman also said that, already initiatives have been taken to repair a road. Work order has already been given with BDT 30000000 to repair that road. We are glad to have the opportunity to raise issues in front of the chairman. Thanks to ActionAid Bangladesh for this wonderful arrangement”. 

“Where we are trying to stop child marriages. To stop child marriage, we demanded for proper marriage registration and birth registration. in this regard, the chairman also asked us to directly contact him or call at 999 to complain anytime to take action regarding child marriage”, shared by Tamanna (14 year-old), another participant of Child hearing program. They submitted a memorandum to end child marriage.

Children also asked to activate the Adolescent Friendly Service Center of Health and Family Welfare center.  

41 children including 34 girls & 7 boys participated in this child hearing program The vocal presence and the participation of the children enlivened the event.