Children launch six-point manifesto for next polls

Ahead of the upcoming national elections, more than 200 children on Tuesday issued a six-point manifesto urging stakeholders, including the government and political parties, to prioritise child protection in their agendas.

The manifesto calls for quality education, healthcare protection, inclusion of children's voices, cyber safety, climate justice, and a safe environment for all children.The call was made at an event organised by ActionAid Bangladesh at the Bangladesh Shishu Academy, as part of the Children's Rights Week 2025.

Speakers emphasised that ensuring children's holistic development and protection is a shared responsibility of the state, society, institutions, and individuals. They stressed that the time to act for a safer and more secure future for children is now.

Farah Kabir, country director of ActionAid Bangladesh, said, "We must work collectively to ensure both safety and opportunities for children. If we fail to protect children, questions will remain about the integrity of our development."

Tamanna, a child representative, said, "To end child marriage and ensure cyber safety, we urge the government not only to enact laws but also to ensure their consistent monitoring."

Shabnam Mustari, additional secretary of the Ministry of Women and Children Affairs, called for stronger collaboration among the government, civil society, and development partners.

Dilara Begum, director general of the Bangladesh Shishu Academy, highlighted efforts to nurture creativity and intellect among children.

Natalie McCauley, chief of Child Protection, UNICEF Bangladesh, said, "Children must be recognised as essential future leaders, and their voices must not be ignored. A permanent, dedicated division on children within the Ministry of Women and Children Affairs could help address existing systematic gaps."

Maj Gen (retd) Md Emdad ul Bari, chairman of the BTRC, stated, "Alongside identifying harmful content, BTRC aims to develop and enforce a robust legal framework to hold social media platforms accountable."

Md Elius Ziku, ADC of DMP, added, "Preventing harassment of children requires not only enforcement but also policy reform and new legislation."

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