Publish: 12:31, 14 Feb, 2025

UNICEF calls for ending criminalization of children

Online Desk
UNICEF calls for ending criminalization of children
Photo - Collected

UNICEF has said it seeks a justice system fit for children that ends their criminalization, reports UNB.

“Rather than treating children as threats, ensure they understand their accountability, recognize them as rights holders in need of care, protection, and rehabilitation,” said the UN agency.

“Ensure child-sensitive legal processes: where specialized courts, legal aid, and child-sensitive investigations uphold children’s rights,” UNICEF Representative in Bangladesh Rana Flowers said in a statement in response to the OHCHR fact-finding report "Human Rights Violations and Abuses related to the Protests of July and August 2024 in Bangladesh."

For children who are found by the courts to have committed a crime, she called for expanding the alternatives to detention—diversion programs, probation, and restorative justice that replaces punitive approaches that inflict lasting harm.

Flowers said Bangladesh is at a moment of great hope, change, and transformation.

"With reform commissions currently looking at ways to rebuild and reshape the future of its policing, courts, and justice systems, there is an opportunity to create a safer, more just environment for the younger generation," she said.

"Let us seize this moment for meaningful reform and ensure that no child, family and community in Bangladesh has to go through such tragedies again," Flowers said.

She said the UN Human Rights Office report on the tragic events that took place in Bangladesh in July and August 2024 is both shocking and heartbreaking.

Among the 1,400 people the report estimates were killed between July 1 and August 15, more than a hundred were children.

"UNICEF reported on many of these deaths and has continued to work on clarifying how many children were killed or hurt—we mourn each and every one of them," Flowers said.

Gender-based violence, including physical assaults and threats of rape, was also documented, aimed at deterring females from participating in protests.

Children were not spared; they were killed, maimed, arbitrarily arrested, detained in inhumane conditions, and tortured.

In one harrowing case, a 12-year-old protester in Dhanmondi died from internal bleeding caused by 200 metal shot pellets.

Another tragic incident involved a six-year-old girl in Narayanganj, who was killed by a bullet to the head while observing clashes from her rooftop.

On August 5, one of the deadliest days of the protests, a 12-year-old boy in Azampur described police firing "everywhere like rainfall," witnessing at least a dozen dead bodies.

"These findings must horrify us all, and UNICEF appeals to all across Bangladesh to ensure “never again” must this be allowed to happen to children in Bangladesh," Flowers said.

In light of these findings, UNICEF, building on its previous statements on this tragedy, stressed the need for all policymakers in Bangladesh, political actors and officials to work urgently on three key aspects to help the children, young people and families of Bangladesh to heal and to move forward with hope.

First, she said, there must be some accountability and some reconciliation for those children whose lives have been lost and whose families grieve for them.

"Second, let us call for justice, supporting and ensuring reintegration of those who remain in detention, or who are otherwise affected by these events," Flowers said.

Third, and perhaps most pressingly, she said let this be a moment of catalytic change.

"A time for all political actors, parties and policymakers to reach a consensus on the need for reforms to policing and justice systems so that no child in Bangladesh ever again faces arbitrary detention, a lack of due process, torture, or violence for exercising their right to peaceful assembly, and so that children in Bangladesh can fully realize their right to safety, dignity and justice," said the UNICEF Representative.

In calling for accountability and reform, UNICEF offered support to ensure there are independent investigations into all cases of violence, abuse, and unlawful detention of children and justice sector reforms that align Bangladesh’s legal framework with international standards for child protection.

UNICEF sought stronger safeguards to prevent future violations, including the establishment of independent monitoring mechanisms.

UNICEF called for protecting child protesters and survivors, ensuring that accountability mechanisms are established to prevent further violations against children and ensure justice for victims.

Bd-Pratidin English/ AM

More News
Dhaka seeks 50-year water management master plan from Beijing
Dhaka seeks 50-year water management master plan from Beijing
Bangladesh secures commitment of $2.1b in investments, loans & grants from China
Bangladesh secures commitment of $2.1b in investments, loans & grants from China
Turkey’s first lady applauds Prof Yunus at UN Zero Waste Day
Turkey’s first lady applauds Prof Yunus at UN Zero Waste Day
Chuadanga hits season’s high at 39.8°C
Chuadanga hits season’s high at 39.8°C
Newly appointed ICT prosecutor Silvia’s appointment revoked
Newly appointed ICT prosecutor Silvia’s appointment revoked
Jamaat Ameer extends Eid greetings to the nation
Jamaat Ameer extends Eid greetings to the nation
Jumatul Wida observed
Jumatul Wida observed
CA recalls Bangladesh-China long people-to-people relations
CA recalls Bangladesh-China long people-to-people relations
Bangladesh, China sign 9 agreements to strengthen cooperation
Bangladesh, China sign 9 agreements to strengthen cooperation
CA invites Chinese investment in Bangladesh
CA invites Chinese investment in Bangladesh
Severe earthquake rocks Bangladesh
Severe earthquake rocks Bangladesh
CA seeks China's greater role in establishing peace, prosperity, stability
CA seeks China's greater role in establishing peace, prosperity, stability
Latest News
Earthquake death toll in Myanmar could exceed 1,000
Earthquake death toll in Myanmar could exceed 1,000
1 second ago | International
We don't deserve bonus: Guardiola
We don't deserve bonus: Guardiola
1 hour ago | Sports
Dhaka seeks 50-year water management master plan from Beijing
Dhaka seeks 50-year water management master plan from Beijing
1 hour ago | National
Bangladesh secures commitment of $2.1b in investments, loans & grants from China
Bangladesh secures commitment of $2.1b in investments, loans & grants from China
1 hour ago | National
Players started to play with a lot of freedom, which I enjoyed: Simmons
Players started to play with a lot of freedom, which I enjoyed: Simmons
2 hours ago | Sports
Turkey’s first lady applauds Prof Yunus at UN Zero Waste Day
Turkey’s first lady applauds Prof Yunus at UN Zero Waste Day
2 hours ago | National
Eid jamaat to be held at 8:30 am at National Eidgah
Eid jamaat to be held at 8:30 am at National Eidgah
2 hours ago | City
Quake death toll rises to 23 in Myanmar, Thailand
Quake death toll rises to 23 in Myanmar, Thailand
3 hours ago | International
Chuadanga hits season’s high at 39.8°C
Chuadanga hits season’s high at 39.8°C
4 hours ago | National
Newly appointed ICT prosecutor Silvia’s appointment revoked
Newly appointed ICT prosecutor Silvia’s appointment revoked
5 hours ago | National
Jamaat Ameer extends Eid greetings to the nation
Jamaat Ameer extends Eid greetings to the nation
5 hours ago | National
Myanmar & Thailand hit by major earthquakes
Myanmar & Thailand hit by major earthquakes
5 hours ago | International
Rain offers respite to South Korea firefighters as death toll rises
Rain offers respite to South Korea firefighters as death toll rises
5 hours ago | International
Martinez vows to retire if Argentina wins World Cup 2026
Martinez vows to retire if Argentina wins World Cup 2026
6 hours ago | Sports
Japan's imperial family to start YouTube account
Japan's imperial family to start YouTube account
6 hours ago | International
Jumatul Wida observed
Jumatul Wida observed
6 hours ago | National
China's top diplomat Wang Yi to visit Russia for Ukraine talks
China's top diplomat Wang Yi to visit Russia for Ukraine talks
6 hours ago | International
Tamim discharged from hospital
Tamim discharged from hospital
6 hours ago | Sports
CA recalls Bangladesh-China long people-to-people relations
CA recalls Bangladesh-China long people-to-people relations
6 hours ago | National
Tens of thousands flee as Myanmar junta troops face last stand in Kokang
Tens of thousands flee as Myanmar junta troops face last stand in Kokang
6 hours ago | International
Noted economist honored by Trump warns that 25% tariffs risk ‘irreparable damage’ to US automakers
Noted economist honored by Trump warns that 25% tariffs risk ‘irreparable damage’ to US automakers
6 hours ago | Business
US engaged to end Sudan war: Rubio
US engaged to end Sudan war: Rubio
7 hours ago | International
Mild heatwave sweeps over some districts: Met office
Mild heatwave sweeps over some districts: Met office
7 hours ago | City
Mother, son die, father injured in Kushtia road accident
Mother, son die, father injured in Kushtia road accident
7 hours ago | City
Bangladesh, China sign 9 agreements to strengthen cooperation
Bangladesh, China sign 9 agreements to strengthen cooperation
7 hours ago | National
Maradona was ‘in agony’ for over 12 hours before death, forensic expert tells court
Maradona was ‘in agony’ for over 12 hours before death, forensic expert tells court
7 hours ago | Sports
US plan to take over Greenland 'serious', Putin says
US plan to take over Greenland 'serious', Putin says
7 hours ago | International
CA invites Chinese investment in Bangladesh
CA invites Chinese investment in Bangladesh
7 hours ago | National
Fewer Americans see Canada as a US ally in the Trump-era
Fewer Americans see Canada as a US ally in the Trump-era
8 hours ago | International
Severe earthquake rocks Bangladesh
Severe earthquake rocks Bangladesh
8 hours ago | National
Most Read
Slight rise in Dhaka temperature expected
Slight rise in Dhaka temperature expected
12 hours ago | City
Severe earthquake rocks Bangladesh
Severe earthquake rocks Bangladesh
8 hours ago | National
Adani fully restores power supply to Bangladesh as payments resume
Adani fully restores power supply to Bangladesh as payments resume
14 hours ago | Business
ChatGPT’s viral Ghibli-Style images raise AI copyright concerns
ChatGPT’s viral Ghibli-Style images raise AI copyright concerns
12 hours ago | Tech
Newly appointed ICT prosecutor Silvia’s appointment revoked
Newly appointed ICT prosecutor Silvia’s appointment revoked
5 hours ago | National
CA invites Chinese investment in Bangladesh
CA invites Chinese investment in Bangladesh
7 hours ago | National
Iran responds to Trump letter on nuclear talks
Iran responds to Trump letter on nuclear talks
12 hours ago | International
Term of five reform commissions extended
Term of five reform commissions extended
23 hours ago | National
Bangladesh-China trade in new dimension
Bangladesh-China trade in new dimension
11 hours ago | Special
Govt approves 29 new projects under BCCTF to combat climate change
Govt approves 29 new projects under BCCTF to combat climate change
12 hours ago | National
Chief Adviser holds talks with Chinese President
Chief Adviser holds talks with Chinese President
12 hours ago | National
Record remittance raises reserve to US$ 25 billion
Record remittance raises reserve to US$ 25 billion
10 hours ago | Business
U.S. Vice President to tour US military post in Greenland
U.S. Vice President to tour US military post in Greenland
9 hours ago | International
Sweet corn cultivation expands with strong market demand
Sweet corn cultivation expands with strong market demand
13 hours ago | Business
Jeweller's stashed gold targeted in Dhanmondi heist
Jeweller's stashed gold targeted in Dhanmondi heist
11 hours ago | City
Dhaka’s air quality declared ‘unhealthy’ this morning
Dhaka’s air quality declared ‘unhealthy’ this morning
11 hours ago | City
Tamim discharged from hospital
Tamim discharged from hospital
6 hours ago | Sports
WFP reverses decision to cut food aid for Rohingyas in Bangladesh
WFP reverses decision to cut food aid for Rohingyas in Bangladesh
23 hours ago | National
CA recalls Bangladesh-China long people-to-people relations
CA recalls Bangladesh-China long people-to-people relations
6 hours ago | National
CA seeks China's greater role in establishing peace, prosperity, stability
CA seeks China's greater role in establishing peace, prosperity, stability
9 hours ago | National
Increasing risk of hacking on WhatsApp: Stay alert
Increasing risk of hacking on WhatsApp: Stay alert
9 hours ago | Tech
Bangladesh, China sign 9 agreements to strengthen cooperation
Bangladesh, China sign 9 agreements to strengthen cooperation
7 hours ago | National
Japan's imperial family to start YouTube account
Japan's imperial family to start YouTube account
6 hours ago | International
6 killed in 'gunfight' in India’s Jammu-Kashmir
6 killed in 'gunfight' in India’s Jammu-Kashmir
9 hours ago | International
Jewellers demand increased security during Eid holidays
Jewellers demand increased security during Eid holidays
8 hours ago | Business
US plan to take over Greenland 'serious', Putin says
US plan to take over Greenland 'serious', Putin says
7 hours ago | International
Maradona was ‘in agony’ for over 12 hours before death, forensic expert tells court
Maradona was ‘in agony’ for over 12 hours before death, forensic expert tells court
7 hours ago | Sports
Martinez vows to retire if Argentina wins World Cup 2026
Martinez vows to retire if Argentina wins World Cup 2026
6 hours ago | Sports
US engaged to end Sudan war: Rubio
US engaged to end Sudan war: Rubio
7 hours ago | International
Noted economist honored by Trump warns that 25% tariffs risk ‘irreparable damage’ to US automakers
Noted economist honored by Trump warns that 25% tariffs risk ‘irreparable damage’ to US automakers
6 hours ago | Business