A workshop titled “Legal Rights of Children: Sharing Experience and Way Forward” for Children in Contact and Conflict with the Law under the Children Act 2013 was held in Cox’s Bazar.
Organized by Save the Children at a local hotel, the workshop brought together representatives from relevant government and non-governmental institutions in the child protection and justice sectors to discuss challenges, share experiences, and explore future actions to ensure justice for children.
The workshop was graced by Mr. Md. Abdul Majid, District and Sessions Judge, Cox’s Bazar, who participated as the Chief Guest and served as the Session Facilitator. Additional District and Sessions Judges of the Women and Children Repression Prevention Tribunal, Joint District and Sessions Judges, Senior Assistant Judges, and Assistant Judges, along with Child Affairs Officers from the Bangladesh Police and Probation Officers from the Department of Social Services, were also present, reflecting the importance of multi-sectoral collaboration.
During the event, Mr. Md. Abdul Majid, District and Sessions Judge, Cox’s Bazar, said, “The Children Act 2013 lays a strong foundation for ensuring justice for children. However, its effectiveness depends entirely on sincere implementation at the field level.” He added, “Having a law in place is not enough- proper implementation is the key. Our perspective toward children must be grounded in care and empathy. This law should not only protect but also create new opportunities for children. That must be our collective goal.”
Participants shared their hands-on experiences in managing children’s cases. They discussed issues such as delays in legal proceedings, a lack of coordination among agencies, the need to build capacity in child sensitivity, and aligning work with national policies.
Save the Children reaffirmed its commitment to partnering with the government and judiciary to build a more effective, coordinated, and child-friendly justice system.
Mohammad Mostofa Feroz Bhuyan, Senior Manager- Child Protection, Save the Children, said, “To ensure justice for children, we need an effective rights-based approach. Through continued dialogue and collaboration with policymakers, we can bring about the changes we seek.”
The workshop concluded with a collective emphasis on strengthening administrative and judicial processes to ensure the best interests of children.
Save the Children has been working for children in Bangladesh for more than 50 years and has been implementing various development and humanitarian assistance projects in Cox’s Bazar since 2012.
By Mohammad Morshed
Photo: Courtesy
