Participation of childrenUNICEF seeks to empower children to speak out about the issues that concern them and participate in the decision-making processes that affect their lives.
Opinion poll
UNICEF conducted the first national Children’s Opinion Poll in 2005 to find out what issues most concern young people. The second national poll in 2008 focused on vulnerability, disparity, and discrimination. It specifically addressed corporal punishment and other abuses in schools, homes, and workplaces, children’s experiences in disasters, and the rights of children with disabilities.
Some key findings:
91 per cent of respondent children reported experiencing physical punishment at school.
80 per cent of children thought that physical punishment at school was acceptable in certain circumstances.
16 per cent of respondent children have had to leave their home in the last five years due to a natural disaster.
While only 1.4 per cent of households included a child with a disability, 90 per cent of respondent children knew about disability and were able to list different types of disability and problems faced by children with disabilities.
Child journalists
UNICEF works with children in every district of Bangladesh as part of Children’s Express , a news agency dedicated to children and youth. Children receive training in child rights, news writing, interviewing and reporting. Their work is printed in local and national newspapers. In 2008, Children’s Express trained 670 young journalists who contributed 390 group reports on child rights issues and 261 individual features to local and national newspapers.
Children in the media
UNICEF collaborates with various media agencies to advocate for children’s participation and children’s rights.
UNICEF trains journalists on children’s issues and ethical reporting.
Television and radio stations broadcast programmes both about children and for child viewers. Two TV stations in Bangladesh have won awards for the International Children’s Day of Broadcasting in recent years.
UNICEF sponsors the Meena Media Awards for excellence in media programmes and writing, produced about children, for children or by children.
UNICEF supports the International Children’s Film Festival Bangladesh, which promotes quality films for children and supports child filmakers.
UNICEF supports the national public radio and television stations, and numerous private channels, to produce and air edutainment programmes for children.
UNICEF also works with the Department of Mass Communication to promote children’s issues through folk theatre and song, and films screenings in local communities, followed by public discussions and courtyard meetings.
Saturday, December 5, 2009
In addition to major disasters, such as Cyclone Sidr, emergencies in Bangladesh are often on a relatively small scale. Localized flash floods, food sh
In addition to major disasters, such as Cyclone Sidr, emergencies in Bangladesh are often on a relatively small scale. Localized flash floods, food shortages and violent storms are common. Whether the emergency effects hundreds or millions of people, women and children are always the most vulnerable.
Emergency preparedness and disaster risk reduction are central to UNICEF’s everyday work in Bangladesh. Assistance varies dramatically depending on the crisis.
During an emergency, UNICEF provides support in several key areas:
Safe water and hygiene
Food and supplies
Education and protection
Emergency preparedness and disaster risk reduction are central to UNICEF’s everyday work in Bangladesh. Assistance varies dramatically depending on the crisis.
During an emergency, UNICEF provides support in several key areas:
Safe water and hygiene
Food and supplies
Education and protection
UNICEF seeks to empower children to speak out about the issues that
UNICEF seeks to empower children to speak out about the issues that concern them and participate in the decision-making processes that affect their lives.
Opinion poll
UNICEF conducted the first national Children’s Opinion Poll in 2005 to find out what issues most concern young people. The second national poll in 2008 focused on vulnerability, disparity, and discrimination. It specifically addressed corporal punishment and other abuses in schools, homes, and workplaces, children’s experiences in disasters, and the rights of children with disabilities.
Some key findings:
91 per cent of respondent children reported experiencing physical punishment at school.
80 per cent of children thought that physical punishment at school was acceptable in certain circumstances.
16 per cent of respondent children have had to leave their home in the last five years due to a natural disaster.
While only 1.4 per cent of households included a child with a disability, 90 per cent of respondent children knew about disability and were able to list different types of disability and problems faced by children with disabilities.
Child journalists
UNICEF works with children in every district of Bangladesh as part of Children’s Express , a news agency dedicated to children and youth. Children receive training in child rights, news writing, interviewing and reporting. Their work is printed in local and national newspapers. In 2008, Children’s Express trained 670 young journalists who contributed 390 group reports on child rights issues and 261 individual features to local and national newspapers.
Children in the media
UNICEF collaborates with various media agencies to advocate for children’s participation and children’s rights.
UNICEF trains journalists on children’s issues and ethical reporting.
Television and radio stations broadcast programmes both about children and for child viewers. Two TV stations in Bangladesh have won awards for the International Children’s Day of Broadcasting in recent years.
UNICEF sponsors the Meena Media Awards for excellence in media programmes and writing, produced about children, for children or by children.
UNICEF supports the International Children’s Film Festival Bangladesh, which promotes quality films for children and supports child filmakers.
UNICEF supports the national public radio and television stations, and numerous private channels, to produce and air edutainment programmes for children.
UNICEF also works with the Department of Mass Communication to promote children’s issues through folk theatre and song, and films screenings in local communities, followed by public discussions and courtyard meetings.
Opinion poll
UNICEF conducted the first national Children’s Opinion Poll in 2005 to find out what issues most concern young people. The second national poll in 2008 focused on vulnerability, disparity, and discrimination. It specifically addressed corporal punishment and other abuses in schools, homes, and workplaces, children’s experiences in disasters, and the rights of children with disabilities.
Some key findings:
91 per cent of respondent children reported experiencing physical punishment at school.
80 per cent of children thought that physical punishment at school was acceptable in certain circumstances.
16 per cent of respondent children have had to leave their home in the last five years due to a natural disaster.
While only 1.4 per cent of households included a child with a disability, 90 per cent of respondent children knew about disability and were able to list different types of disability and problems faced by children with disabilities.
Child journalists
UNICEF works with children in every district of Bangladesh as part of Children’s Express , a news agency dedicated to children and youth. Children receive training in child rights, news writing, interviewing and reporting. Their work is printed in local and national newspapers. In 2008, Children’s Express trained 670 young journalists who contributed 390 group reports on child rights issues and 261 individual features to local and national newspapers.
Children in the media
UNICEF collaborates with various media agencies to advocate for children’s participation and children’s rights.
UNICEF trains journalists on children’s issues and ethical reporting.
Television and radio stations broadcast programmes both about children and for child viewers. Two TV stations in Bangladesh have won awards for the International Children’s Day of Broadcasting in recent years.
UNICEF sponsors the Meena Media Awards for excellence in media programmes and writing, produced about children, for children or by children.
UNICEF supports the International Children’s Film Festival Bangladesh, which promotes quality films for children and supports child filmakers.
UNICEF supports the national public radio and television stations, and numerous private channels, to produce and air edutainment programmes for children.
UNICEF also works with the Department of Mass Communication to promote children’s issues through folk theatre and song, and films screenings in local communities, followed by public discussions and courtyard meetings.
What happened?
What happened?
In 2007, more than half of Bangladesh was seriously affected by monsoon flooding. Caused by excessive rainfall in catchment areas of Nepal, Bhutan and Northern Indian, floods in July and September affected 13.3 million people – 6 million of them children – in 46 districts.
The floods caused:
1,100 deaths (90 per cent of them children)
400,000 displaced people
1.1 million damaged or destroyed homes
162,000 cases of diarrhoea
2.2 million acres of damaged cropland
Many farmers lost their crops twice and were unable to replant.
UNICEF’s response
To restore access to safe water, UNICEF supported the construction of 853 new tubewells, the repair of 91,300 damaged wells, and distribution of over 4.3 million water purification tablets.
UNICEF also provided
Plastic sheets and family kits – containing clothes, cooking utensils and basic household items – for 98,000 families
Food supplements for 162,000 people
Essential drugs for 250,000 people
During the floods UNICEF set up safe spaces that provided care and psychosocial support to 40,000 children. These children were able to continue their studies thanks to UNICEF’s emergency education kits.
In 2007, more than half of Bangladesh was seriously affected by monsoon flooding. Caused by excessive rainfall in catchment areas of Nepal, Bhutan and Northern Indian, floods in July and September affected 13.3 million people – 6 million of them children – in 46 districts.
The floods caused:
1,100 deaths (90 per cent of them children)
400,000 displaced people
1.1 million damaged or destroyed homes
162,000 cases of diarrhoea
2.2 million acres of damaged cropland
Many farmers lost their crops twice and were unable to replant.
UNICEF’s response
To restore access to safe water, UNICEF supported the construction of 853 new tubewells, the repair of 91,300 damaged wells, and distribution of over 4.3 million water purification tablets.
UNICEF also provided
Plastic sheets and family kits – containing clothes, cooking utensils and basic household items – for 98,000 families
Food supplements for 162,000 people
Essential drugs for 250,000 people
During the floods UNICEF set up safe spaces that provided care and psychosocial support to 40,000 children. These children were able to continue their studies thanks to UNICEF’s emergency education kits.
Floods 2007
Floods 2007
What is happening?
Periodic outbreaks of avian influenza or ‘bird flu’ in poultry have been a concern in Bangladesh since March 2007, when the first case of H5N1 virus was detected in birds. To contain the threat, the Government of Bangladesh had culled over 1.65 million birds in and around infected farms by January 2009.
In January 2008, a 16-month old boy contracted the H5N1 ‘bird flu’ virus. The boy was the first and only human case reported in Bangladesh. He survived.
Person to person transmission of avian influenza is not yet possible. Should this change, a human flu pandemic would be inevitable. The pandemic would threaten every aspect of children’s lives.
Spread of the virus has already compromised household economies and the nutritional status of women and children.
UNICEF’s response
In collaboration with the Government’s Department of Mass Communication, UNICEF works to educate local communities about the risks of avian influenza (AI) and encourage individuals to adopt safe behaviours to avoid transmission of the virus from animal to human.
Folk theatre groups tour the country to present music and plays on avian influenza. Folk songs and plays encourage people to wash their hands properly and observe other safe behaviours when handling birds, poultry meat and eggs.
AI protection messages are also included in a range of campaign and education materials:
Rickshaws and vans equipped with megaphones announce health and safety advice in meat and poultry markets.
Posters explain the dangers of AI to local people.
AI training manuals provide poultry farmers with the knowledge to improve hygiene practices and reduce risks for livestock and humans.
TV and radio spots on public and private channels encourage hand-washing and other safe behaviours.
UNICEF trains community hygiene promoters about the virus, so that they can include prevention messages in their hygiene education sessions. Health professionals, local administrators, community volunteers and Scout leaders have also received training.
UNICEF works with the Press Institute of Bangladesh to create awareness among journalists about the dangers of AI and their responsibility to provide accurate and timely information to the public.
UNICEF collaborates with the Government and other international agencies to control the virus and further prepare ministries, hospitals and the general public for a human pandemic.
What is happening?
Periodic outbreaks of avian influenza or ‘bird flu’ in poultry have been a concern in Bangladesh since March 2007, when the first case of H5N1 virus was detected in birds. To contain the threat, the Government of Bangladesh had culled over 1.65 million birds in and around infected farms by January 2009.
In January 2008, a 16-month old boy contracted the H5N1 ‘bird flu’ virus. The boy was the first and only human case reported in Bangladesh. He survived.
Person to person transmission of avian influenza is not yet possible. Should this change, a human flu pandemic would be inevitable. The pandemic would threaten every aspect of children’s lives.
Spread of the virus has already compromised household economies and the nutritional status of women and children.
UNICEF’s response
In collaboration with the Government’s Department of Mass Communication, UNICEF works to educate local communities about the risks of avian influenza (AI) and encourage individuals to adopt safe behaviours to avoid transmission of the virus from animal to human.
Folk theatre groups tour the country to present music and plays on avian influenza. Folk songs and plays encourage people to wash their hands properly and observe other safe behaviours when handling birds, poultry meat and eggs.
AI protection messages are also included in a range of campaign and education materials:
Rickshaws and vans equipped with megaphones announce health and safety advice in meat and poultry markets.
Posters explain the dangers of AI to local people.
AI training manuals provide poultry farmers with the knowledge to improve hygiene practices and reduce risks for livestock and humans.
TV and radio spots on public and private channels encourage hand-washing and other safe behaviours.
UNICEF trains community hygiene promoters about the virus, so that they can include prevention messages in their hygiene education sessions. Health professionals, local administrators, community volunteers and Scout leaders have also received training.
UNICEF works with the Press Institute of Bangladesh to create awareness among journalists about the dangers of AI and their responsibility to provide accurate and timely information to the public.
UNICEF collaborates with the Government and other international agencies to control the virus and further prepare ministries, hospitals and the general public for a human pandemic.
What happened?
What happened?
On the evening of 15 November 2007, Cyclone Sidr – a category four cyclonic storm – hit the low-lying and densely-populated coast of Bangladesh. The cyclone ravaged 30 southern districts in both Barisal and Khulna divisions. Hundreds perished as buildings collapsed in the 240 km per hour winds. Thousands of others drowned in tidal surges that were over 15 feet high in many villages.
The cyclone caused:
3,363 deaths
55,282 injured people
1.5 million damaged or destroyed homes
2.5 million acres of damaged cropland
Through loss of life, home and livelihood, the 8.9 million people affected by the cyclone continue to face lives of increased poverty.
UNICEF’s response
Immediately following the cyclone, UNICEF worked with Save the Children to establish 220 safe spaces where child victims received food and safe water and had access to psycho-social support and recreation.
UNICEF also provided a wide range of emergency supplies, including:
Safe drinking water for over 100,000 families
1 million packets of oral rehydration solution to treat diarrhoea
100,000 blankets, 30,000 tarpaulins and 40,000 plastic sheets
99,000 winter jackets for children aged five and below
Family kits – containing clothes, cooking utensils and basic household items – for 32,000 families
Longer-term support for cyclone victims has included:
Materials and support to build 42 transitional schools, which can be used as cyclone shelters during future storms
Construction of almost 30,000 latrines
Nutritional supplements for more than 140,000 children and over 50,000 women
Cash transfers and social support for 2000 orphaned and vulnerable children and their foster families.
On the evening of 15 November 2007, Cyclone Sidr – a category four cyclonic storm – hit the low-lying and densely-populated coast of Bangladesh. The cyclone ravaged 30 southern districts in both Barisal and Khulna divisions. Hundreds perished as buildings collapsed in the 240 km per hour winds. Thousands of others drowned in tidal surges that were over 15 feet high in many villages.
The cyclone caused:
3,363 deaths
55,282 injured people
1.5 million damaged or destroyed homes
2.5 million acres of damaged cropland
Through loss of life, home and livelihood, the 8.9 million people affected by the cyclone continue to face lives of increased poverty.
UNICEF’s response
Immediately following the cyclone, UNICEF worked with Save the Children to establish 220 safe spaces where child victims received food and safe water and had access to psycho-social support and recreation.
UNICEF also provided a wide range of emergency supplies, including:
Safe drinking water for over 100,000 families
1 million packets of oral rehydration solution to treat diarrhoea
100,000 blankets, 30,000 tarpaulins and 40,000 plastic sheets
99,000 winter jackets for children aged five and below
Family kits – containing clothes, cooking utensils and basic household items – for 32,000 families
Longer-term support for cyclone victims has included:
Materials and support to build 42 transitional schools, which can be used as cyclone shelters during future storms
Construction of almost 30,000 latrines
Nutritional supplements for more than 140,000 children and over 50,000 women
Cash transfers and social support for 2000 orphaned and vulnerable children and their foster families.
UNICEF supports the Government’s programme for universal birth registration in Bangladesh. Since 2006, with the passage of the Birth and Death Registr
UNICEF supports the Government’s programme for universal birth registration in Bangladesh. Since 2006, with the passage of the Birth and Death Registration Act, children born in Bangladesh must be registered with a birth certificate.
Technical support
UNICEF provides technical assistance and advocacy support to the national birth registration drive. Birth registration is currently manual and slow. Efforts are underway to computerize the process and build a more efficient national registration system.
Increasing public awareness
Media campaigns raise public awareness about the importance of birth registration. Teachers and health care providers reinforce the campaigns, explaining that birth certificates help children access health and education services, while providing protection against child marriage, labour, trafficking and other abuses.
Expansion
According to the Government of Bangladesh, almost 45 per cent of people are now registered with birth certificates, though the percentage of the child population with birth registration is not known. Combining birth registration with school admission is increasing the scope of the campaign. UNICEF is supporting accelerated registration of the most vulnerable and excluded children, including children living in the streets and in brothels.
Download the Birth registration factsheet.
Technical support
UNICEF provides technical assistance and advocacy support to the national birth registration drive. Birth registration is currently manual and slow. Efforts are underway to computerize the process and build a more efficient national registration system.
Increasing public awareness
Media campaigns raise public awareness about the importance of birth registration. Teachers and health care providers reinforce the campaigns, explaining that birth certificates help children access health and education services, while providing protection against child marriage, labour, trafficking and other abuses.
Expansion
According to the Government of Bangladesh, almost 45 per cent of people are now registered with birth certificates, though the percentage of the child population with birth registration is not known. Combining birth registration with school admission is increasing the scope of the campaign. UNICEF is supporting accelerated registration of the most vulnerable and excluded children, including children living in the streets and in brothels.
Download the Birth registration factsheet.
Criminal responsibility
Criminal responsibility
In 2004, following advocacy efforts by UNICEF, the minimum age of criminal responsibility was raised from seven to nine. Enforcement remains difficult because many children have no proof of their age due to low levels of birth registration.
Legislative reform
UNICEF supports government efforts to harmonize domestic legislation with the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) and other international standards. As part of this undertaking, a new Children’s Code will legislate all CRC rights and principles not found in other national legislation. The new legislation will cover the rights of all children to health, education, participation and protection and enable enforcement of the CRC in Bangladesh.
UNICEF has also supported the Government to amend the 1974 Children Act – which covers children in conflict with the law and children in need of protection – in line with the CRC. UNICEF is advocating for the establishment of an independent body or commissioner for child rights.
Juvenile justice
UNICEF is working towards a child-friendly justice system that diverts children in contact with the law to appropriate social support services, instead of depriving them of liberty in detention centres.
To sensitize the legal and law enforcement communities to international child rights and standards of justice for children, UNICEF supports multisectoral training for judges, magistrates, police officers, probation officers, lawyers, social workers and staff in institutions. UNICEF assists the Government to coordinate UN, NGO and government partners working for justice for children.
In 2004, following advocacy efforts by UNICEF, the minimum age of criminal responsibility was raised from seven to nine. Enforcement remains difficult because many children have no proof of their age due to low levels of birth registration.
Legislative reform
UNICEF supports government efforts to harmonize domestic legislation with the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) and other international standards. As part of this undertaking, a new Children’s Code will legislate all CRC rights and principles not found in other national legislation. The new legislation will cover the rights of all children to health, education, participation and protection and enable enforcement of the CRC in Bangladesh.
UNICEF has also supported the Government to amend the 1974 Children Act – which covers children in conflict with the law and children in need of protection – in line with the CRC. UNICEF is advocating for the establishment of an independent body or commissioner for child rights.
Juvenile justice
UNICEF is working towards a child-friendly justice system that diverts children in contact with the law to appropriate social support services, instead of depriving them of liberty in detention centres.
To sensitize the legal and law enforcement communities to international child rights and standards of justice for children, UNICEF supports multisectoral training for judges, magistrates, police officers, probation officers, lawyers, social workers and staff in institutions. UNICEF assists the Government to coordinate UN, NGO and government partners working for justice for children.
Children at risk
Children at risk
UNICEF’s work to protect children at risk includes legislative and institutional reform, advocacy on the rights and requirements of vulnerable children, capacity building of child protection services and piloting of child protection systems.
A national protection system
UNICEF is advocating for a national child protection system to support all vulnerable children, including:
orphans
children living on the streets
working children
children in conflict with the law
victims of trafficking, violence, abuse and exploitation.
The system will link together all organizations and institutions (public and private) that support children at risk. Outreach activities will identify different groups of vulnerable children and help them access services for health, shelter, education, social and legal assistance.
To support the network, UNICEF is facilitating the development of a national child protection information management system and the design of national social services training.
Community-based care
UNICEF is piloting a number of community-based child protection systems.
Children orphaned or made vulnerable by Cyclone Sidr have been fostered by relatives or other families in their local communities. The 2,000 foster families receive monthly cash transfers and are visited every month by government social workers.
199 former camel jockeys have been successfully reunited with their families. The reintegration programme for the camel jockeys will serve as a model for future community-based care initiatives.
UNICEF is working to establish a protection system for Rohingya refugee children in Cox’s Bazar in collaboration with UNHCR.
Institutional reform
UNICEF is developing minimum care standards for institutions that care for orphans, children in contact with the law, and victims of trafficking and abuse. This has included training for institution staff in child-friendly and gender-appropriated care.
UNICEF supports institutionalization only as a last resort and is seeking to decrease the number of children living in institutions through legal reform and alternative care policies, including the development of a separate juvenile justice code.
Drop-in centres for children living on the street
UNICEF supports reintegration services for over 5,000 children living on the streets in six city corporations. Children in drop-in centres receive basic education, counselling, life-skills training and job placement, as well as food and shelter. Family support and community outreach activities encourage parents and community members to interact with the children and help them readjust to life in the general community.
Support for camel jockeys
Since 2005, UNICEF has worked closely with the Government of the United Arab Emirates to repatriate 168 trafficked camel jockeys and provide support for a further 31 boys who returned independently to Bangladesh. The children lived in shelters on their return, where they received medical, educational and psycho-social support. The children then moved back to their communities, where support continues to be available through community care committees. The committees also work to raise awareness about trafficking and protect other children from human traffickers.
Uniting against trafficking
UNICEF is working with the Government of India and the Government of Bangladesh to prevent cross border human trafficking and develop a uniform system for the rescue, recovery, repatriation and reintegration of trafficking victims. UNICEF works to repatriate and reintegrate children who have been trafficked to India for sexual or commercial exploitation.
UNICEF’s work to protect children at risk includes legislative and institutional reform, advocacy on the rights and requirements of vulnerable children, capacity building of child protection services and piloting of child protection systems.
A national protection system
UNICEF is advocating for a national child protection system to support all vulnerable children, including:
orphans
children living on the streets
working children
children in conflict with the law
victims of trafficking, violence, abuse and exploitation.
The system will link together all organizations and institutions (public and private) that support children at risk. Outreach activities will identify different groups of vulnerable children and help them access services for health, shelter, education, social and legal assistance.
To support the network, UNICEF is facilitating the development of a national child protection information management system and the design of national social services training.
Community-based care
UNICEF is piloting a number of community-based child protection systems.
Children orphaned or made vulnerable by Cyclone Sidr have been fostered by relatives or other families in their local communities. The 2,000 foster families receive monthly cash transfers and are visited every month by government social workers.
199 former camel jockeys have been successfully reunited with their families. The reintegration programme for the camel jockeys will serve as a model for future community-based care initiatives.
UNICEF is working to establish a protection system for Rohingya refugee children in Cox’s Bazar in collaboration with UNHCR.
Institutional reform
UNICEF is developing minimum care standards for institutions that care for orphans, children in contact with the law, and victims of trafficking and abuse. This has included training for institution staff in child-friendly and gender-appropriated care.
UNICEF supports institutionalization only as a last resort and is seeking to decrease the number of children living in institutions through legal reform and alternative care policies, including the development of a separate juvenile justice code.
Drop-in centres for children living on the street
UNICEF supports reintegration services for over 5,000 children living on the streets in six city corporations. Children in drop-in centres receive basic education, counselling, life-skills training and job placement, as well as food and shelter. Family support and community outreach activities encourage parents and community members to interact with the children and help them readjust to life in the general community.
Support for camel jockeys
Since 2005, UNICEF has worked closely with the Government of the United Arab Emirates to repatriate 168 trafficked camel jockeys and provide support for a further 31 boys who returned independently to Bangladesh. The children lived in shelters on their return, where they received medical, educational and psycho-social support. The children then moved back to their communities, where support continues to be available through community care committees. The committees also work to raise awareness about trafficking and protect other children from human traffickers.
Uniting against trafficking
UNICEF is working with the Government of India and the Government of Bangladesh to prevent cross border human trafficking and develop a uniform system for the rescue, recovery, repatriation and reintegration of trafficking victims. UNICEF works to repatriate and reintegrate children who have been trafficked to India for sexual or commercial exploitation.
UNICEF runs an adolescent empowerment project to help prevent child marriage, dowry and other forms of abuse and exploitation of adolescents, especial
UNICEF runs an adolescent empowerment project to help prevent child marriage, dowry and other forms of abuse and exploitation of adolescents, especially girls. The project targets 100,000 boys and girls, and their families and communities.
Peer education
In 28 districts across Bangladesh, UNICEF sponsors 2,580 adolescent centres, where trained adolescent leaders educate their peers about child rights, child marriage, reproductive health, gender, HIV/AIDS, dowry, and violence. Sessions on critical thinking and communication encourage adolescents to build on their new knowledge by speaking to parents about the issues that affect them. The centres also provide a safe place for adolescents to socialize and discuss their concerns.
Participation
The centres run various cultural and sporting activities. Encouraging girls to play sport helps address gender disparities, boosting girls’ mobility and participation in community activities. Through some of the centres, adolescent girls can access training in small business management and livelihood trades, such as garment manufacture. Increasing the economic worth of adolescents strengthens arguments against child marriage and dowry.
A supportive community
Parents and community members participate in sessions at the centres that are linked to the adolescents’ programmes. These adults meet regularly with the adolescents, helping to build a support network for the teenagers. Adults and adolescents work together to prevent child rights abuses in the local community.
The Bangladesh Shishu (Children’s) Academy has adopted training modules and teaching aids from the adolescent project, meaning that UNICEF interventions now reach adolescents in all 64 districts of Bangladesh, helping to build a culture of female empowerment and delayed marriage.
Peer education
In 28 districts across Bangladesh, UNICEF sponsors 2,580 adolescent centres, where trained adolescent leaders educate their peers about child rights, child marriage, reproductive health, gender, HIV/AIDS, dowry, and violence. Sessions on critical thinking and communication encourage adolescents to build on their new knowledge by speaking to parents about the issues that affect them. The centres also provide a safe place for adolescents to socialize and discuss their concerns.
Participation
The centres run various cultural and sporting activities. Encouraging girls to play sport helps address gender disparities, boosting girls’ mobility and participation in community activities. Through some of the centres, adolescent girls can access training in small business management and livelihood trades, such as garment manufacture. Increasing the economic worth of adolescents strengthens arguments against child marriage and dowry.
A supportive community
Parents and community members participate in sessions at the centres that are linked to the adolescents’ programmes. These adults meet regularly with the adolescents, helping to build a support network for the teenagers. Adults and adolescents work together to prevent child rights abuses in the local community.
The Bangladesh Shishu (Children’s) Academy has adopted training modules and teaching aids from the adolescent project, meaning that UNICEF interventions now reach adolescents in all 64 districts of Bangladesh, helping to build a culture of female empowerment and delayed marriage.
UNICEF integrates issues of HIV/AIDS throughout its programmes, from education for adolescents to training of health workers.
UNICEF integrates issues of HIV/AIDS throughout its programmes, from education for adolescents to training of health workers.
HIV education
Because Bangladesh is a low prevalence country, UNICEF focuses on increasing access to HIV education and raising public awareness of HIV/AIDS. HIV/AIDS is one of four key issues being covered in a UNICEF-supported life-skills pilot project for secondary school students in ten districts. Children in adolescent centres and learning centres for working children also learn about HIV. UNICEF supported the Government to develop the National Communication Strategy for HIV 2005-2010.
Prevention of parent to child transmission
UNICEF is piloting a prevention of parent to child transmission (PPTCT) project for HIV-positive pregnant women and their families. Selected health facility staff are trained and equipped to provide antiretroviral prophylaxis, voluntary counselling, testing services, and care and support for infected women, their spouses and children. Thanks to increased HIV/AIDS education, 48 per cent of women now understand that mothers can transmit HIV to their babies during pregnancy, at delivery and when breastfeeding.
Drop-in centres
Through 146 drop-in centres in 44 districts, UNICEF has been supporting HIV/AIDS prevention activities among those most at risk of contracting the virus: injecting drug users, mobile populations, men who have sex with men, sex workers and their clients, and children forced into commercial sexual exploitation.
The centres provide health care (including treatment for sexually-transmitted infections), crisis shelter, counselling, health education, resting and recreation facilities, and referral and outreach services. The centres distributed over 6.6 million condoms, 2 million syringes and 1.3 million extra needles between January and September 2008. UNICEF will progressively withdraw from the drop-in centres as the Government of Bangladesh takes on full responsibility for this project in 2009.
HIV education
Because Bangladesh is a low prevalence country, UNICEF focuses on increasing access to HIV education and raising public awareness of HIV/AIDS. HIV/AIDS is one of four key issues being covered in a UNICEF-supported life-skills pilot project for secondary school students in ten districts. Children in adolescent centres and learning centres for working children also learn about HIV. UNICEF supported the Government to develop the National Communication Strategy for HIV 2005-2010.
Prevention of parent to child transmission
UNICEF is piloting a prevention of parent to child transmission (PPTCT) project for HIV-positive pregnant women and their families. Selected health facility staff are trained and equipped to provide antiretroviral prophylaxis, voluntary counselling, testing services, and care and support for infected women, their spouses and children. Thanks to increased HIV/AIDS education, 48 per cent of women now understand that mothers can transmit HIV to their babies during pregnancy, at delivery and when breastfeeding.
Drop-in centres
Through 146 drop-in centres in 44 districts, UNICEF has been supporting HIV/AIDS prevention activities among those most at risk of contracting the virus: injecting drug users, mobile populations, men who have sex with men, sex workers and their clients, and children forced into commercial sexual exploitation.
The centres provide health care (including treatment for sexually-transmitted infections), crisis shelter, counselling, health education, resting and recreation facilities, and referral and outreach services. The centres distributed over 6.6 million condoms, 2 million syringes and 1.3 million extra needles between January and September 2008. UNICEF will progressively withdraw from the drop-in centres as the Government of Bangladesh takes on full responsibility for this project in 2009.
Because maternal and child nutrition are inextricable linked
Because maternal and child nutrition are inextricable linked, UNICEF seeks to improve nutrition across the entire lifecycle – from infancy, through childhood, adolescence, and the child-bearing years.
Vitamin A
UNICEF works with the Government to deliver vitamin A supplements to all children between the ages of one and five. Vitamin A boosts the immune system, strengthening resistance to diarrhoea, acute respiratory infection, measles and other childhood diseases.
Children receive the supplement twice a year through a nationwide immunization campaign or when they visit health clinics and outreach centres for their childhood vaccinations. 94 per cent of children under the age of five have now received vitamin A supplements. UNICEF also supports vitamin A fortification of cooking oil.
Deworming and nutrition advice
Vaccination campaigns provide a platform to deliver other nutritional services, including deworming, and the promotion of breastfeeding and sound eating habits. Further advice on infant and child feeding is available at public health facilities where UNICEF trains staff in nutrition counselling.
© UNICEF Bangladesh/2006/Naser Siddique
A health worker explains the importance of a varied diet to women in Rangpur, Rajshahi division.
Salt iodization
For two decades, UNICEF has supported salt-iodization as means of preventing iodine deficiency disorders. Iodine deficiency causes goiter, birth defects, deafness and paralysis, and hampers children’s mental and physical development. Although 84 per cent of households now consume iodized salt (up from 70 per cent in 2004), the quality of the salt is often unreliable. UNICEF’s current programme provides monitoring and technical assistance to salt manufacturers to ensure proper iodization and works to increase public awareness of the importance of consuming adequately iodized salt.
Preventing anaemia
To address high levels of anaemia among pre-school children, adolescent girls and mothers in the Chittagong Hill Tracts and selected low-income areas, UNICEF works to encourage families to eat foods rich in iron and folic acid. The programme also provides flavourless powders of iron, folic acid and other micronutrients that can be sprinkled over meals. Adolescents in the community receive deworming and iron folate tablets.
Emergency nutrition
Because good nutrition depends on robust food security, UNICEF provides emergency food supplements to women and children
Vitamin A
UNICEF works with the Government to deliver vitamin A supplements to all children between the ages of one and five. Vitamin A boosts the immune system, strengthening resistance to diarrhoea, acute respiratory infection, measles and other childhood diseases.
Children receive the supplement twice a year through a nationwide immunization campaign or when they visit health clinics and outreach centres for their childhood vaccinations. 94 per cent of children under the age of five have now received vitamin A supplements. UNICEF also supports vitamin A fortification of cooking oil.
Deworming and nutrition advice
Vaccination campaigns provide a platform to deliver other nutritional services, including deworming, and the promotion of breastfeeding and sound eating habits. Further advice on infant and child feeding is available at public health facilities where UNICEF trains staff in nutrition counselling.
© UNICEF Bangladesh/2006/Naser Siddique
A health worker explains the importance of a varied diet to women in Rangpur, Rajshahi division.
Salt iodization
For two decades, UNICEF has supported salt-iodization as means of preventing iodine deficiency disorders. Iodine deficiency causes goiter, birth defects, deafness and paralysis, and hampers children’s mental and physical development. Although 84 per cent of households now consume iodized salt (up from 70 per cent in 2004), the quality of the salt is often unreliable. UNICEF’s current programme provides monitoring and technical assistance to salt manufacturers to ensure proper iodization and works to increase public awareness of the importance of consuming adequately iodized salt.
Preventing anaemia
To address high levels of anaemia among pre-school children, adolescent girls and mothers in the Chittagong Hill Tracts and selected low-income areas, UNICEF works to encourage families to eat foods rich in iron and folic acid. The programme also provides flavourless powders of iron, folic acid and other micronutrients that can be sprinkled over meals. Adolescents in the community receive deworming and iron folate tablets.
Emergency nutrition
Because good nutrition depends on robust food security, UNICEF provides emergency food supplements to women and children
Under UNICEF’s pilot project on injury prevention,
Injury
Under UNICEF’s pilot project on injury prevention, selected schools have introduced injury-prevention and disaster-preparedness classes. Community-based initiatives include swimming lessons for children aged four to ten and village crèches for younger children. Community workers run courtyard meetings and make home-visits to raise awareness among parents about the importance of erecting fences around cooking fires and water hazards.
The pilot proves that child injury is preventable. Over three years, in the four pilot districts (including three in rural Bangladesh and one urban area):
Drowning deaths among children aged 1 to 4 reduced by 44 per cent.
Injuries among children aged 1 to 17 reduced by 32 per cent.
Hospitalization of children decreased by one third.
UNICEF is advocating for a national strategy on child injury prevention to curb rates of injury-related death, the biggest killer of children over the age of one. Material developed for the school pilot is being distributed to primary schools nationwide as a supplement to the standard primary education curriculum.
Under UNICEF’s pilot project on injury prevention, selected schools have introduced injury-prevention and disaster-preparedness classes. Community-based initiatives include swimming lessons for children aged four to ten and village crèches for younger children. Community workers run courtyard meetings and make home-visits to raise awareness among parents about the importance of erecting fences around cooking fires and water hazards.
The pilot proves that child injury is preventable. Over three years, in the four pilot districts (including three in rural Bangladesh and one urban area):
Drowning deaths among children aged 1 to 4 reduced by 44 per cent.
Injuries among children aged 1 to 17 reduced by 32 per cent.
Hospitalization of children decreased by one third.
UNICEF is advocating for a national strategy on child injury prevention to curb rates of injury-related death, the biggest killer of children over the age of one. Material developed for the school pilot is being distributed to primary schools nationwide as a supplement to the standard primary education curriculum.
Child survival
Child survival
In order to reduce rates of childhood death, UNICEF supports immunization, child illness management and injury-prevention programmes.
Immunization
UNICEF continues to support nationwide immunization drives against measles, tetanus, hepatitis, polio and other childhood diseases. Progress is encouraging:
88 per cent of children under the age of one are vaccinated against measles, compared to 77 per cent in 2004.
Bangladesh regained polio-free status after an imported case was discovered in 2006.
Rates of neonatal tetanus are declining, with only 152 cases reported in 2008.
UNICEF works with the World Health Organization and the Government to increase access to vaccines in 15 low-performing districts. Activities include cold-chain management for local health services and social mobilization programmes that encourage families to bring all children for the full series of immunizations.
Illness
Encouraging families to seek treatment for sick children, particularly those suffering symptoms of pneumonia, infection, diarrhoea, malaria or malnutrition, is extremely important. UNICEF supports behaviour change campaigns and social mobilization activities to raise public awareness of the risks to child health. The number of children under the age of five who are taken to health-care providers when suffering symptoms of pneumonia increased from 20 to 30 per cent between 2004 and 2007.
In order to improve the standard of care available to children at health facilities, UNICEF provides new equipment, trains staff and improves patient management systems. UNICEF supports the integrated management of childhood illness in over 200 health facilities at sub-district level. UNICEF currently supports projects in almost 300 sub-district health facilities for the integrated management of childhood illness. In these facilities, the quality of care improved by 50 per cent between 2006 and 2007.
In order to reduce rates of childhood death, UNICEF supports immunization, child illness management and injury-prevention programmes.
Immunization
UNICEF continues to support nationwide immunization drives against measles, tetanus, hepatitis, polio and other childhood diseases. Progress is encouraging:
88 per cent of children under the age of one are vaccinated against measles, compared to 77 per cent in 2004.
Bangladesh regained polio-free status after an imported case was discovered in 2006.
Rates of neonatal tetanus are declining, with only 152 cases reported in 2008.
UNICEF works with the World Health Organization and the Government to increase access to vaccines in 15 low-performing districts. Activities include cold-chain management for local health services and social mobilization programmes that encourage families to bring all children for the full series of immunizations.
Illness
Encouraging families to seek treatment for sick children, particularly those suffering symptoms of pneumonia, infection, diarrhoea, malaria or malnutrition, is extremely important. UNICEF supports behaviour change campaigns and social mobilization activities to raise public awareness of the risks to child health. The number of children under the age of five who are taken to health-care providers when suffering symptoms of pneumonia increased from 20 to 30 per cent between 2004 and 2007.
In order to improve the standard of care available to children at health facilities, UNICEF provides new equipment, trains staff and improves patient management systems. UNICEF supports the integrated management of childhood illness in over 200 health facilities at sub-district level. UNICEF currently supports projects in almost 300 sub-district health facilities for the integrated management of childhood illness. In these facilities, the quality of care improved by 50 per cent between 2006 and 2007.
Maternal and neonatal health
Maternal and neonatal health
UNICEF works in public health facilities and with local communities to strengthen maternal and neonatal health services and encourage women to seek medical treatment.
Improving health facilities
UNICEF supports improvements to antenatal, emergency obstetric, postnatal and neonatal care services in 191 public health facilities. These improvements include:
facility upgrades
new equipment
staff training
Training to sensitize hospital staff to women’s needs and concerns (including the issue of domestic violence) ensures that the rights and dignity of female patients are respected.
The number of hospitals providing comprehensive birthing facilities is steadily rising, with 84 per cent of UNICEF-supported centres fully-equipped to provide comprehensive obstetric care.
Obstetric emergencies
UNICEF-supported health workers educate the community about the danger signs of pregnancy and the importance of seeking help from skilled medical professionals during obstetric emergencies. The number of women giving birth in the care of a skilled health worker increased from 13 per cent in 2004 to 18 per cent in 2007. Though promising, this figure is not sufficient to significantly reduce neonatal and maternal death.
Linking with hospitals
Community health workers encourage women to utilize local health services, by linking them with their local health facility. Women learn that health facilities not only provide emergency treatment, but also continued care and information about best practices for mother and baby health and nutrition.
Empowering mothers
UNICEF is piloting a community-support system for pregnant and new mothers in six sub-districts. Volunteers from community-support groups visit pregnant women to monitor their status, refer them to the local health facilities and help plan for the birth.
Communities have been quick to adapt to the project. Many of the groups have established funds that local women can draw from to pay for transport to hospital in an obstetric emergency. In other communities, women received money boxes to encourage saving for medical costs and transport. Ensuring emergency transport is one of the most effective interventions in preventing maternal and neonatal death.
Gender and birth
Community support groups also educate the community about a woman’s right to be treated with dignity when seeking treatment, whether this means privacy screens in the labour ward or separate toilets for female patients. Support group volunteers speak to women about their birth experience and the group advocates with the health centre whenever improvements are required.
Joint programme
Recently, UNICEF joined with the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) to support the Government of Bangladesh in a joint initiative to accelerate improvements to maternal and neonatal survival rates in four districts.
UNICEF works in public health facilities and with local communities to strengthen maternal and neonatal health services and encourage women to seek medical treatment.
Improving health facilities
UNICEF supports improvements to antenatal, emergency obstetric, postnatal and neonatal care services in 191 public health facilities. These improvements include:
facility upgrades
new equipment
staff training
Training to sensitize hospital staff to women’s needs and concerns (including the issue of domestic violence) ensures that the rights and dignity of female patients are respected.
The number of hospitals providing comprehensive birthing facilities is steadily rising, with 84 per cent of UNICEF-supported centres fully-equipped to provide comprehensive obstetric care.
Obstetric emergencies
UNICEF-supported health workers educate the community about the danger signs of pregnancy and the importance of seeking help from skilled medical professionals during obstetric emergencies. The number of women giving birth in the care of a skilled health worker increased from 13 per cent in 2004 to 18 per cent in 2007. Though promising, this figure is not sufficient to significantly reduce neonatal and maternal death.
Linking with hospitals
Community health workers encourage women to utilize local health services, by linking them with their local health facility. Women learn that health facilities not only provide emergency treatment, but also continued care and information about best practices for mother and baby health and nutrition.
Empowering mothers
UNICEF is piloting a community-support system for pregnant and new mothers in six sub-districts. Volunteers from community-support groups visit pregnant women to monitor their status, refer them to the local health facilities and help plan for the birth.
Communities have been quick to adapt to the project. Many of the groups have established funds that local women can draw from to pay for transport to hospital in an obstetric emergency. In other communities, women received money boxes to encourage saving for medical costs and transport. Ensuring emergency transport is one of the most effective interventions in preventing maternal and neonatal death.
Gender and birth
Community support groups also educate the community about a woman’s right to be treated with dignity when seeking treatment, whether this means privacy screens in the labour ward or separate toilets for female patients. Support group volunteers speak to women about their birth experience and the group advocates with the health centre whenever improvements are required.
Joint programme
Recently, UNICEF joined with the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) to support the Government of Bangladesh in a joint initiative to accelerate improvements to maternal and neonatal survival rates in four districts.
UNICEF collaborates with the Government of Bangladesh on
UNICEF collaborates with the Government of Bangladesh on the Basic Education for Hard to Reach Urban Working Children (BEHTRUWC) project.
Education and child labour
Because many families rely on the income of their children to survive, UNICEF’s project for working children focuses on non-formal education that fits in around children’s regular work schedules. Education is the first step in breaking the cycle of unskilled-employment and child labour.
Learning centres
The project establishes small learning centres in urban areas that are home to high numbers of working children. Children between the age of 10 and 14 attend morning classes for two and a half hours, six days a week. There are 25 children in each class. The children usually return to their place of employment after class. By 2008, the project had opened 6,646 centres for 166,150 students in the six divisional capitals of Bangladesh. Attendance rates are encouraging, with few drop-outs.
Basic education and life skills
During their lessons, students study basic reading, writing and mathematics. They also learn a range of life skills, such as how to obtain healthcare, identify hazardous work, and understand their rights as children and other issues relevant to their situation. Classes are interactive, encouraging children to apply what they learn in their everyday lives.
After completing a 40-month basic education programme, the children attain the equivalent of grade five in Bangla and social science and grade three in mathematics. They also learn basic English. The programme supports selected children to attend further education and vocational training.
Download the Education for working children factsheet.
Education and child labour
Because many families rely on the income of their children to survive, UNICEF’s project for working children focuses on non-formal education that fits in around children’s regular work schedules. Education is the first step in breaking the cycle of unskilled-employment and child labour.
Learning centres
The project establishes small learning centres in urban areas that are home to high numbers of working children. Children between the age of 10 and 14 attend morning classes for two and a half hours, six days a week. There are 25 children in each class. The children usually return to their place of employment after class. By 2008, the project had opened 6,646 centres for 166,150 students in the six divisional capitals of Bangladesh. Attendance rates are encouraging, with few drop-outs.
Basic education and life skills
During their lessons, students study basic reading, writing and mathematics. They also learn a range of life skills, such as how to obtain healthcare, identify hazardous work, and understand their rights as children and other issues relevant to their situation. Classes are interactive, encouraging children to apply what they learn in their everyday lives.
After completing a 40-month basic education programme, the children attain the equivalent of grade five in Bangla and social science and grade three in mathematics. They also learn basic English. The programme supports selected children to attend further education and vocational training.
Download the Education for working children factsheet.
UNICEF supports the Government-driven Second Primary Education Development Programme (PEDP II). The programme aims to achieve quality education for al
UNICEF supports the Government-driven Second Primary Education Development Programme (PEDP II). The programme aims to achieve quality education for all children by making primary schools more inclusive, child-friendly and effective.
Teacher training
UNICEF supports training for teachers and school administrators on inclusive education, interactive teaching and other classroom subjects. Information leaflets on current issues in education – such as access for disabled children, participatory learning, corporal punishment, HIV/AIDS, school sanitation, child injury and emergency preparedness – are distributed to teachers. UNICEF is also helping the Government to revise the Certificate of Education curriculum to ensure that new primary teachers understand issues of gender, access and participation.
Motivating communities
UNICEF works to mobilize communities in support of primary education and primary schools. Local theatre groups present plays and puppet shows about the importance of attending and completing primary school. The shows offer community members a chance to discuss sensitive issues like school attendance and drop-out rates. Over 2 million people attended these dramas in 2008.
Meena episodes contribute to a nation-wide awareness campaign promoting girls’ education, creative teaching and the idea that learning can be fun.
Empowering primary schools
UNICEF empowers parents, teachers and local communities to work together by providing school-improvement grants to school management committees. These committees meet regularly to develop School Level Improvement Plans (SLIPs) to manage the funds. Making decisions about the needs of the school fosters a sense of ownership among teachers and parents. Among the schools receiving grants, money has been spent on:
teaching materials
filing cabinets and bookshelves
books for school libraries
benches
tools
cleaning products
ramps for disabled access
a school bell
sports days and prizes
musical instruments
planting a school garden
constructing toilets
Teachers involved in the SLIP process report feeling more motivated in the classroom because they have greater control over school resources and the learning environment.
Making learning fun
In each of the 64 districts, education fairs bring together teachers and students from different schools. Displays of children’s work and student performances foster a sense of school community and encourage children to take pride in their achievements.
UNICEF is working to increase primary school enrolment and attendance through early learning programmes.
On track for education
Literacy is a key indicator of the success of primary school education. In Bangladesh, literacy rates among 15-24 year-olds increased from 37 per cent in 1991 to 54 per cent in 2006. Bangladesh is also on track to meet Millennium Goals two and three for universal primary education and gender parity in school.
Download the Quality primary education factsheet.
Teacher training
UNICEF supports training for teachers and school administrators on inclusive education, interactive teaching and other classroom subjects. Information leaflets on current issues in education – such as access for disabled children, participatory learning, corporal punishment, HIV/AIDS, school sanitation, child injury and emergency preparedness – are distributed to teachers. UNICEF is also helping the Government to revise the Certificate of Education curriculum to ensure that new primary teachers understand issues of gender, access and participation.
Motivating communities
UNICEF works to mobilize communities in support of primary education and primary schools. Local theatre groups present plays and puppet shows about the importance of attending and completing primary school. The shows offer community members a chance to discuss sensitive issues like school attendance and drop-out rates. Over 2 million people attended these dramas in 2008.
Meena episodes contribute to a nation-wide awareness campaign promoting girls’ education, creative teaching and the idea that learning can be fun.
Empowering primary schools
UNICEF empowers parents, teachers and local communities to work together by providing school-improvement grants to school management committees. These committees meet regularly to develop School Level Improvement Plans (SLIPs) to manage the funds. Making decisions about the needs of the school fosters a sense of ownership among teachers and parents. Among the schools receiving grants, money has been spent on:
teaching materials
filing cabinets and bookshelves
books for school libraries
benches
tools
cleaning products
ramps for disabled access
a school bell
sports days and prizes
musical instruments
planting a school garden
constructing toilets
Teachers involved in the SLIP process report feeling more motivated in the classroom because they have greater control over school resources and the learning environment.
Making learning fun
In each of the 64 districts, education fairs bring together teachers and students from different schools. Displays of children’s work and student performances foster a sense of school community and encourage children to take pride in their achievements.
UNICEF is working to increase primary school enrolment and attendance through early learning programmes.
On track for education
Literacy is a key indicator of the success of primary school education. In Bangladesh, literacy rates among 15-24 year-olds increased from 37 per cent in 1991 to 54 per cent in 2006. Bangladesh is also on track to meet Millennium Goals two and three for universal primary education and gender parity in school.
Download the Quality primary education factsheet.
Children who participate in early childhood education are more likely to enroll and remain in primary school (and achieve better results) than those w
Children who participate in early childhood education are more likely to enroll and remain in primary school (and achieve better results) than those who cannot access comprehensive early childhood care.
Early learning centres
UNICEF’s Early Learning for Development Project provides centre-based care and education to the most vulnerable children between the ages of four and six.
Since 2006, UNICEF and the Government of Bangladesh have established 5,560 early learning centres in the Chittagong Hill Tracts, urban slums and other disadvantaged districts. Teachers help children develop their linguistic, social and cognitive skills through:
story-telling
singing
indoor and outdoor games
making toys from materials brought from home
drawing
show-and-tell
question-and-answer sessions
Education for teachers and parents
UNICEF has supported training of preschool teachers, one for each early learning centre, in a programme currently serving over 254,000 children. Parents are encouraged to visit the centres where they can learn how to give age-appropriate interactive care to young children at home.
Working with primary schools
The early learning centres link with primary schools to provide transition support and encourage primary school enrolment. A study of graduates from UNICEF-supported centres showed that 94 per cent of children who attended preschool in the Chittagong Hill Tracts later enrolled in primary school.
Food and learning
In the Chittagong Hill Tracts, UNICEF is working with the United Nations World Food Programme to deliver micronutrient fortified biscuits to pre-school children attending the early learning centres. The mid-morning snacks motivate children to come to class. They also improve nutritional status and reduce short-term hunger, enhancing a child’s capacity to concentrate.
Child to child
UNICEF is piloting a child-to-child project to help prepare young children for primary school. Grade-five students from 30 primary schools pair with one or two local preschool-aged children. Each week, the grade-five students run an activity – drawing, singing, story telling or games – for the younger learners, under the supervision of a primary school teacher. The project provides additional early learning opportunities for young children and helps familiarise them with primary school.
Early learning for all
UNICEF works with the Government at policy level, and through the public media, to ensure that early learning is recognised as an essential part of every child’s education.
When the early learning programme was launched in 2001, public awareness of early childhood development and opportunities for formal early learning were almost non-existent. In 2007, the Ministry of Primary and Mass Education and UNICEF developed a pre-primary operational framework to establish preschool classes in all government primary schools by 2015.
UNICEF and the Government of Bangladesh are committed to the Education for All initiative – a global movement to meet the educational needs of all people. Goal one is to expand and improve early childhood care and education, especially for the most vulnerable children. UNICEF is working with the Government and NGOs to develop set standards for early learning throughout Bangladesh.
Download the Early learning factsheet.
Early learning centres
UNICEF’s Early Learning for Development Project provides centre-based care and education to the most vulnerable children between the ages of four and six.
Since 2006, UNICEF and the Government of Bangladesh have established 5,560 early learning centres in the Chittagong Hill Tracts, urban slums and other disadvantaged districts. Teachers help children develop their linguistic, social and cognitive skills through:
story-telling
singing
indoor and outdoor games
making toys from materials brought from home
drawing
show-and-tell
question-and-answer sessions
Education for teachers and parents
UNICEF has supported training of preschool teachers, one for each early learning centre, in a programme currently serving over 254,000 children. Parents are encouraged to visit the centres where they can learn how to give age-appropriate interactive care to young children at home.
Working with primary schools
The early learning centres link with primary schools to provide transition support and encourage primary school enrolment. A study of graduates from UNICEF-supported centres showed that 94 per cent of children who attended preschool in the Chittagong Hill Tracts later enrolled in primary school.
Food and learning
In the Chittagong Hill Tracts, UNICEF is working with the United Nations World Food Programme to deliver micronutrient fortified biscuits to pre-school children attending the early learning centres. The mid-morning snacks motivate children to come to class. They also improve nutritional status and reduce short-term hunger, enhancing a child’s capacity to concentrate.
Child to child
UNICEF is piloting a child-to-child project to help prepare young children for primary school. Grade-five students from 30 primary schools pair with one or two local preschool-aged children. Each week, the grade-five students run an activity – drawing, singing, story telling or games – for the younger learners, under the supervision of a primary school teacher. The project provides additional early learning opportunities for young children and helps familiarise them with primary school.
Early learning for all
UNICEF works with the Government at policy level, and through the public media, to ensure that early learning is recognised as an essential part of every child’s education.
When the early learning programme was launched in 2001, public awareness of early childhood development and opportunities for formal early learning were almost non-existent. In 2007, the Ministry of Primary and Mass Education and UNICEF developed a pre-primary operational framework to establish preschool classes in all government primary schools by 2015.
UNICEF and the Government of Bangladesh are committed to the Education for All initiative – a global movement to meet the educational needs of all people. Goal one is to expand and improve early childhood care and education, especially for the most vulnerable children. UNICEF is working with the Government and NGOs to develop set standards for early learning throughout Bangladesh.
Download the Early learning factsheet.
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Floods 2007
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Working with UNICEF
UNICEF employs passionate and committed people who want to help build a world fit for children.
To apply for UNICEF vacancies in Bangladesh, please download a personal history form and send it, along with an updated CV, to hrbangladesh@unicef.org
UNICEF only accepts applications for advertised positions. The consultancy roster is currently open.
Notice of international vacancies and the details of young professional programmes are posted on our global website.
As an equal opportunity employer, UNICEF is committed to diversity among its staff. Well qualified candidates, particularly females, are strongly encouraged to apply.
UNICEF employs passionate and committed people who want to help build a world fit for children.
To apply for UNICEF vacancies in Bangladesh, please download a personal history form and send it, along with an updated CV, to hrbangladesh@unicef.org
UNICEF only accepts applications for advertised positions. The consultancy roster is currently open.
Notice of international vacancies and the details of young professional programmes are posted on our global website.
As an equal opportunity employer, UNICEF is committed to diversity among its staff. Well qualified candidates, particularly females, are strongly encouraged to apply.
Situated on the Bay of Bengal, Bangladesh shares large borders with India and a small southern boundary with Myanmar. The Ganges, Brahmaputra and Megh
Situated on the Bay of Bengal, Bangladesh shares large borders with India and a small southern boundary with Myanmar. The Ganges, Brahmaputra and Meghna rivers meet in Bangladesh to form the world’s largest delta. Extremely fertile, yet vulnerable to floods, and cyclones, this low-lying country supports a population of 159 million people. Over 40 per cent are children.
Click for a detailed map (PDF).
Rural poverty
Three-quarters of Bangladeshis live in rural areas. Families in rural Bangladesh rely primarily on agriculture and fishing for their daily income. Over half of these families live below the poverty line. In the face of frequent natural disasters and the growing threat of climate change, rural livelihoods are now more tenuous than ever.
Urban poverty
Increasing rural poverty is causing many families to migrate to the urban centres. Dhaka, the capital city of Bangladesh is one of the fastest growing mega-cities of the world. The pressures of rapid urbanization result in high land prices and the growth of large slums on illegal settlements.
Millennium Development Goals
Despite these difficulties, Bangladesh has made significant progress towards meeting the child-related Millennium Development Goals :
Click for a detailed map (PDF).
Rural poverty
Three-quarters of Bangladeshis live in rural areas. Families in rural Bangladesh rely primarily on agriculture and fishing for their daily income. Over half of these families live below the poverty line. In the face of frequent natural disasters and the growing threat of climate change, rural livelihoods are now more tenuous than ever.
Urban poverty
Increasing rural poverty is causing many families to migrate to the urban centres. Dhaka, the capital city of Bangladesh is one of the fastest growing mega-cities of the world. The pressures of rapid urbanization result in high land prices and the growth of large slums on illegal settlements.
Millennium Development Goals
Despite these difficulties, Bangladesh has made significant progress towards meeting the child-related Millennium Development Goals :
Young people commit to and demand action on climate change
Young people commit to and demand action on climate change
COPENHAGEN, 4 December 2009 – Gathered from all over the world, 164 young people, aged 14 to 17, issued a Declaration in Copenhagen today committing to personal changes in their own lives and demanding that governments take actions to protect the world from the terrible effects of climate change.
“The battle against climate change is upon all of us. We are ready to act and we invite you to join us. Climate change is affecting our lives, our families and our future,” the document states. “We must act immediately and we are ready to fulfill our commitments. We are prepared to give all we have as long as there is the possibility of saving our planet,” it continues.
“We expect the same courage from you.” the Declaration concludes.
In the closing ceremony today in the City Hall, the young people presented their Declaration to the President of COP 15, Ms. Connie Hedegaard, who is expected to take the Declaration to the leaders present at the COP 15. Ms. Hedegaard restated the children’s statement that the time for talk is over.
“It’s so good that young people from the whole world are telling us – the politicians – that the time for action is now”, Ms. Hedegaard said, addressing the 164 young delegates.
“You must tell the Politicians that they cannot leave Copenhagen empty-handed two weeks from now. Because you, the citizens – the new generation – demand us to take action now”, Ms. Hedegaard continued.
The Declaration recommends that industrialized countries ramp up spending on adaption; cities be well planned and sustainable; safety standards, regulations and emergency protocols be established to prepare for climate induced disasters; better water conservation; education on sea level rise and flooding and biodiversity-related projects.
The young people also made recommendations to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions, which include: new energy-efficient technologies; investments in sustainable transport infrastructure; establishing a carbon trading system; establishing new classifications for countries – 1) industrialized countries, 2) developing countries which pollute heavily and the 3) less polluting developing countries; national recycling plans; mandatory climate change education in schools.
The Declaration came on the heels a week-long Children’s Climate Forum, consisting of consultations between the young delegations, study and training focusing on local activities that young people can take in their home towns.
The Forum was held in Copenhagen’s City Hall and was organized by the City of Copenhagen and the Danish National Committee for UNICEF.
The closing ceremony was followed by the Danish band Alien Beat Club performing the Children’s Climate Forum anthem "It's My World" together with the young people. The song was written especially for the Children's Climate Forum by Danish hitmaker Remee.
Later this evening, the young people will be named Climate Ambassadors, formalizing the commitments embodied in their Declaration, including to commit to personal life style changes for the “common good”; to educate themselves and their communities to mitigate the changing climate; to engage with all generations and governments to combat climate change. Their commitment is for one year.
To better implement their promises, the young people have formed a social network so they can share their experiences and difficulties as they put into action what they have learned. This network, to read the full declaration and the extensive reporting that youth journalists have carried out over the last seven days can be viewed at: uniteforclimate.org
The closing ceremony wrapped up with a press conference with five young spokespersons: Ulla Klint Heede, 17, Denmark; Mohamed Axam Maumoon, 15 Maldives; Bipra Biswambhara, 16 India; Travis Bruce Mills, 15, New Zealand, Cressida Mawdesley-Thomas, 15, UK.
Eight young delegates are staying on to participate in the COP 15, where they will bring the children’s voices to the world leaders . They are: Toriqul Islam Momen,15 , Bangladesh; Darwin David Temo Pena,17, Bolivia; Marie Moise Louissaint, 16, Haiti; Lourine Millicent Oyodah, 15, Kenya; Mohamed Axam Maumoon, 15, Maldives; Khadidiatou Diop, 17, Senegal; Bridgette Cindy Makhubedi, 16, South Africa, Kondwani Joe Banda, 17, Zambia
The young people reported on their activities throughout the week, with special reports from a class of high school journalism students which is available at: uniteforclimate.org where the full declaration is posted.
For further information, to obtain b-roll and photos, please contact:
Karin Aaen, UNICEF Denmark,
Tel + 0045 25 39 60 99,
E-mail: kaaen@unicef.dk
Uffe Lembo, Københavns Kommune,
Tel + 0045 28 11 19 29,
E-mail: uffe.lembo@buf.kk.dk
Kate Donovan, UNICEF Media,
Tel in Denmark: + 1 212 378 2128
E-mail: kdonovan@unicef.org
COPENHAGEN, 4 December 2009 – Gathered from all over the world, 164 young people, aged 14 to 17, issued a Declaration in Copenhagen today committing to personal changes in their own lives and demanding that governments take actions to protect the world from the terrible effects of climate change.
“The battle against climate change is upon all of us. We are ready to act and we invite you to join us. Climate change is affecting our lives, our families and our future,” the document states. “We must act immediately and we are ready to fulfill our commitments. We are prepared to give all we have as long as there is the possibility of saving our planet,” it continues.
“We expect the same courage from you.” the Declaration concludes.
In the closing ceremony today in the City Hall, the young people presented their Declaration to the President of COP 15, Ms. Connie Hedegaard, who is expected to take the Declaration to the leaders present at the COP 15. Ms. Hedegaard restated the children’s statement that the time for talk is over.
“It’s so good that young people from the whole world are telling us – the politicians – that the time for action is now”, Ms. Hedegaard said, addressing the 164 young delegates.
“You must tell the Politicians that they cannot leave Copenhagen empty-handed two weeks from now. Because you, the citizens – the new generation – demand us to take action now”, Ms. Hedegaard continued.
The Declaration recommends that industrialized countries ramp up spending on adaption; cities be well planned and sustainable; safety standards, regulations and emergency protocols be established to prepare for climate induced disasters; better water conservation; education on sea level rise and flooding and biodiversity-related projects.
The young people also made recommendations to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions, which include: new energy-efficient technologies; investments in sustainable transport infrastructure; establishing a carbon trading system; establishing new classifications for countries – 1) industrialized countries, 2) developing countries which pollute heavily and the 3) less polluting developing countries; national recycling plans; mandatory climate change education in schools.
The Declaration came on the heels a week-long Children’s Climate Forum, consisting of consultations between the young delegations, study and training focusing on local activities that young people can take in their home towns.
The Forum was held in Copenhagen’s City Hall and was organized by the City of Copenhagen and the Danish National Committee for UNICEF.
The closing ceremony was followed by the Danish band Alien Beat Club performing the Children’s Climate Forum anthem "It's My World" together with the young people. The song was written especially for the Children's Climate Forum by Danish hitmaker Remee.
Later this evening, the young people will be named Climate Ambassadors, formalizing the commitments embodied in their Declaration, including to commit to personal life style changes for the “common good”; to educate themselves and their communities to mitigate the changing climate; to engage with all generations and governments to combat climate change. Their commitment is for one year.
To better implement their promises, the young people have formed a social network so they can share their experiences and difficulties as they put into action what they have learned. This network, to read the full declaration and the extensive reporting that youth journalists have carried out over the last seven days can be viewed at: uniteforclimate.org
The closing ceremony wrapped up with a press conference with five young spokespersons: Ulla Klint Heede, 17, Denmark; Mohamed Axam Maumoon, 15 Maldives; Bipra Biswambhara, 16 India; Travis Bruce Mills, 15, New Zealand, Cressida Mawdesley-Thomas, 15, UK.
Eight young delegates are staying on to participate in the COP 15, where they will bring the children’s voices to the world leaders . They are: Toriqul Islam Momen,15 , Bangladesh; Darwin David Temo Pena,17, Bolivia; Marie Moise Louissaint, 16, Haiti; Lourine Millicent Oyodah, 15, Kenya; Mohamed Axam Maumoon, 15, Maldives; Khadidiatou Diop, 17, Senegal; Bridgette Cindy Makhubedi, 16, South Africa, Kondwani Joe Banda, 17, Zambia
The young people reported on their activities throughout the week, with special reports from a class of high school journalism students which is available at: uniteforclimate.org where the full declaration is posted.
For further information, to obtain b-roll and photos, please contact:
Karin Aaen, UNICEF Denmark,
Tel + 0045 25 39 60 99,
E-mail: kaaen@unicef.dk
Uffe Lembo, Københavns Kommune,
Tel + 0045 28 11 19 29,
E-mail: uffe.lembo@buf.kk.dk
Kate Donovan, UNICEF Media,
Tel in Denmark: + 1 212 378 2128
E-mail: kdonovan@unicef.org
A vial of vaccine and a sterile syringe can help ensure a child’s right to health. Books and stationary facilitate a child’s right to education. Suppl
A vial of vaccine and a sterile syringe can help ensure a child’s right to health. Books and stationary facilitate a child’s right to education. Supplies are essential to the fulfilment of children’s rights.
UNICEF seeks best value for money on all goods and services procured for UNICEF and UNICEF-financed programmes.
UNICEF aims to ensure competitive prices through fair, honest and transparent tender processes that guarantee equal opportunity for all bidders. The procurement process of UNICEF in Bangladesh complies with UNICEF’s global procurement policy.
UNICEF maintains a supplier register and an NGO register of businesses and organizations seeking to work with us.
UNICEF welcomes any feedback or questions relating to the procurement process.
UNICEF seeks best value for money on all goods and services procured for UNICEF and UNICEF-financed programmes.
UNICEF aims to ensure competitive prices through fair, honest and transparent tender processes that guarantee equal opportunity for all bidders. The procurement process of UNICEF in Bangladesh complies with UNICEF’s global procurement policy.
UNICEF maintains a supplier register and an NGO register of businesses and organizations seeking to work with us.
UNICEF welcomes any feedback or questions relating to the procurement process.
RSS Feeds
RSS Feeds
What is RSS?
UNICEF news feeds use ‘Really Simple Syndication’ (RSS) technology. RSS allows users to obtain updates automatically whenever fresh news becomes available. Headlines and summaries syndicated via RSS are accompanied by links to the full content, available on the UNICEF website.
How do I view a news feed?
To view a news feed:
Copy the link for the feed.
Paste it into your news reader.
What is a news reader?
RSS news feeds can be read with a web-based news reader, or with dedicated news reader software.
Web-based news readers typically require users to register and subscribe to the particular feeds they are interested in. For assistance with the registration and subscription process, users should refer to the support information available on the web-based news reader sites. Lists of web-based news readers are available online, for example here and here (external links).
Dedicated news reader software requires installation on a user’s computer. For assistance, users should refer to the documentation available for the software. Lists of news reader software packages are available online, for example here and here (external links).
What feeds are available from UNICEF Bangladesh?
Name: UNICEF Bangladesh stories
Link: http://feeds.feedburner.com/unicefbd_stories
Description: The latest stories from UNICEF Bangladesh website.
Name: UNICEF Bangladesh press releases
Link: http://feeds.feedburner.com/unicefbd_press-releases
Description: The latest press releases from UNICEF Bangladesh website.
Name: UNICEF Bangladesh photo essays
Link: http://feeds.feedburner.com/unicefbd_photo-essays
Description: The latest photo essays from UNICEF Bangladesh website.
Terms of Use
All content of UNICEF news feeds is protected by law, including, as applicable, copyright laws. Use of the UNICEF news feeds constitutes acceptance of the Terms of Use. UNICEF reserves the right to discontinue this service at any time.
More information on RSS
External links open in a new window and take you to non-UNICEF web sites:
What is RSS?
UNICEF news feeds use ‘Really Simple Syndication’ (RSS) technology. RSS allows users to obtain updates automatically whenever fresh news becomes available. Headlines and summaries syndicated via RSS are accompanied by links to the full content, available on the UNICEF website.
How do I view a news feed?
To view a news feed:
Copy the link for the feed.
Paste it into your news reader.
What is a news reader?
RSS news feeds can be read with a web-based news reader, or with dedicated news reader software.
Web-based news readers typically require users to register and subscribe to the particular feeds they are interested in. For assistance with the registration and subscription process, users should refer to the support information available on the web-based news reader sites. Lists of web-based news readers are available online, for example here and here (external links).
Dedicated news reader software requires installation on a user’s computer. For assistance, users should refer to the documentation available for the software. Lists of news reader software packages are available online, for example here and here (external links).
What feeds are available from UNICEF Bangladesh?
Name: UNICEF Bangladesh stories
Link: http://feeds.feedburner.com/unicefbd_stories
Description: The latest stories from UNICEF Bangladesh website.
Name: UNICEF Bangladesh press releases
Link: http://feeds.feedburner.com/unicefbd_press-releases
Description: The latest press releases from UNICEF Bangladesh website.
Name: UNICEF Bangladesh photo essays
Link: http://feeds.feedburner.com/unicefbd_photo-essays
Description: The latest photo essays from UNICEF Bangladesh website.
Terms of Use
All content of UNICEF news feeds is protected by law, including, as applicable, copyright laws. Use of the UNICEF news feeds constitutes acceptance of the Terms of Use. UNICEF reserves the right to discontinue this service at any time.
More information on RSS
External links open in a new window and take you to non-UNICEF web sites:
Water and sanitation
Water and sanitation
Only 36 per cent of the population use improved latrines.
Only 80 per cent of the population has access to safe drinking water, primarily because of naturally occurring arsenic contamination of groundwater in some areas.
Safe hygiene practices, especially proper hand washing, remain a challenge in the fight against disease.
Emergencies and conflict
Development is hampered by annual floods and other natural disasters, including cyclones and tornados. Bangladesh is also susceptible to earthquakes.
Avian influenza continues to threaten lives and livelihoods in Bangladesh.
Low-lying Bangladesh is extremely vulnerable to the effects of climate change.
The Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) in south-eastern Bangladesh, where ethnic minorities make up half the population, have suffered a slower development rate than the national average, due primarily to a history of civil conflict and the difficult terrain.
The health and wellbeing of Rohingya refugee children, whose families fled from Myanmar to the south-eastern part of Bangladesh following internal conflict, remains a concern.
Only 36 per cent of the population use improved latrines.
Only 80 per cent of the population has access to safe drinking water, primarily because of naturally occurring arsenic contamination of groundwater in some areas.
Safe hygiene practices, especially proper hand washing, remain a challenge in the fight against disease.
Emergencies and conflict
Development is hampered by annual floods and other natural disasters, including cyclones and tornados. Bangladesh is also susceptible to earthquakes.
Avian influenza continues to threaten lives and livelihoods in Bangladesh.
Low-lying Bangladesh is extremely vulnerable to the effects of climate change.
The Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) in south-eastern Bangladesh, where ethnic minorities make up half the population, have suffered a slower development rate than the national average, due primarily to a history of civil conflict and the difficult terrain.
The health and wellbeing of Rohingya refugee children, whose families fled from Myanmar to the south-eastern part of Bangladesh following internal conflict, remains a concern.
Challenges facing the children of Bangladesh
Challenges facing the children of Bangladesh
Bangladesh has one of the highest rates of child-marriage in the world. 64 per cent of women (aged 20 to 24) were married before they turned 18.
13 per cent of children are involved in child labour. Child labourers are frequently denied an education and are vulnerable to violence and abuse.
Bangladesh has one of the lowest rates of birth registration in the world. This makes it difficult to protect children from trafficking, child labour and child marriage.
Education
Only 47 per cent of enrolled primary school students complete primary school.
Many parents do play with their youngest children. They have little or no understanding of how play and other informal learning helps prepare children for school.
High drop-out rates and poor quality teaching and learning are serious problems for primary schools.
Only 36 per cent of boys and 41 per cent of girls attend secondary school.
Health and nutrition
Neonatal death and maternal mortality rates remain high, primarily because most deliveries take place at home without access to proper medical care.
Health facilities lack qualified staff and suffer from shortages of supplies.
Under-nutrition contributes to child mortality. 22 per cent of infants are born with low birth weight. Up to 46 per cent of children under-five are underweight.
Drowning and injury is the leading cause of death among children older than one year.
Major prevention efforts are needed to keep HIV prevalence rates low.
Bangladesh has one of the highest rates of child-marriage in the world. 64 per cent of women (aged 20 to 24) were married before they turned 18.
13 per cent of children are involved in child labour. Child labourers are frequently denied an education and are vulnerable to violence and abuse.
Bangladesh has one of the lowest rates of birth registration in the world. This makes it difficult to protect children from trafficking, child labour and child marriage.
Education
Only 47 per cent of enrolled primary school students complete primary school.
Many parents do play with their youngest children. They have little or no understanding of how play and other informal learning helps prepare children for school.
High drop-out rates and poor quality teaching and learning are serious problems for primary schools.
Only 36 per cent of boys and 41 per cent of girls attend secondary school.
Health and nutrition
Neonatal death and maternal mortality rates remain high, primarily because most deliveries take place at home without access to proper medical care.
Health facilities lack qualified staff and suffer from shortages of supplies.
Under-nutrition contributes to child mortality. 22 per cent of infants are born with low birth weight. Up to 46 per cent of children under-five are underweight.
Drowning and injury is the leading cause of death among children older than one year.
Major prevention efforts are needed to keep HIV prevalence rates low.
UNICEF employs passionate and committed people who want to help build a world fit for children.
UNICEF employs passionate and committed people who want to help build a world fit for children.
To apply for UNICEF vacancies in Bangladesh, please download a personal history form and send it, along with an updated CV, to hrbangladesh@unicef.org
UNICEF only accepts applications for advertised positions. The consultancy roster is currently open.
Notice of international vacancies and the details of young professional programmes are posted on our global website.
As an equal opportunity employer, UNICEF is committed to diversity among its staff. Well qualified candidates, particularly females, are strongly encouraged to apply.
To apply for UNICEF vacancies in Bangladesh, please download a personal history form and send it, along with an updated CV, to hrbangladesh@unicef.org
UNICEF only accepts applications for advertised positions. The consultancy roster is currently open.
Notice of international vacancies and the details of young professional programmes are posted on our global website.
As an equal opportunity employer, UNICEF is committed to diversity among its staff. Well qualified candidates, particularly females, are strongly encouraged to apply.
Bangladesh has one of the highest rates of child-marriage in the world.
Protection
Bangladesh has one of the highest rates of child-marriage in the world. 64 per cent of women (aged 20 to 24) were married before they turned 18.
13 per cent of children are involved in child labour. Child labourers are frequently denied an education and are vulnerable to violence and abuse.
Bangladesh has one of the lowest rates of birth registration in the world. This makes it difficult to protect children from trafficking, child labour and child marriage.
Education
Only 47 per cent of enrolled primary school students complete primary school.
Many parents do play with their youngest children. They have little or no understanding of how play and other informal learning helps prepare children for school.
High drop-out rates and poor quality teaching and learning are serious problems for primary schools.
Only 36 per cent of boys and 41 per cent of girls attend secondary school.
Health and nutrition
Neonatal death and maternal mortality rates remain high, primarily because most deliveries take place at home without access to proper medical care.
Health facilities lack qualified staff and suffer from shortages of supplies.
Under-nutrition contributes to child mortality. 22 per cent of infants are born with low birth weight. Up to 46 per cent of children under-five are underweight.
Drowning and injury is the leading cause of death among children older than one year.
Major prevention efforts are needed to keep HIV prevalence rates low.
Bangladesh has one of the highest rates of child-marriage in the world. 64 per cent of women (aged 20 to 24) were married before they turned 18.
13 per cent of children are involved in child labour. Child labourers are frequently denied an education and are vulnerable to violence and abuse.
Bangladesh has one of the lowest rates of birth registration in the world. This makes it difficult to protect children from trafficking, child labour and child marriage.
Education
Only 47 per cent of enrolled primary school students complete primary school.
Many parents do play with their youngest children. They have little or no understanding of how play and other informal learning helps prepare children for school.
High drop-out rates and poor quality teaching and learning are serious problems for primary schools.
Only 36 per cent of boys and 41 per cent of girls attend secondary school.
Health and nutrition
Neonatal death and maternal mortality rates remain high, primarily because most deliveries take place at home without access to proper medical care.
Health facilities lack qualified staff and suffer from shortages of supplies.
Under-nutrition contributes to child mortality. 22 per cent of infants are born with low birth weight. Up to 46 per cent of children under-five are underweight.
Drowning and injury is the leading cause of death among children older than one year.
Major prevention efforts are needed to keep HIV prevalence rates low.
Third and Fourth Periodic Report on CRC
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Third and Fourth Periodic Report on CRC
Third and Fourth Periodic Report on CRC: The report has been prepared in accordance with the General Guidelines adopted by the Committee on 11 October 1996. All effort has been made to provide the information as per this latest Guideline. The Concluding Observations and Recommendations on the Initial Report of Bangladesh on both the Optional Protocols to the CRC have also been taken into consideration in this Report.
As lead agency, the Ministry of Women and Children Affairs (MOWCA) in association with the line ministries, UNICEF and NGOs
has prepared this Periodic Report during January-August 2007. The line ministries are: Health and Family Welfare; Social
Welfare; Education; Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives; Home Affairs; Law, Justice and Parliamentary
Affairs; Finance; Planning; Information; Youth and Sports; Labour and Employment; Defence; Cultural Affairs; Chittagong Hill
Tracts Affairs; and the Primary and Mass Education. The report preparation process was documented initially in a concept paper
agreed between all partners. The report was drafted by a core committee and discussed in MOWCA and UNICEF before wider
circulation for review and feedback.
the highlights of the State of the World's Children 2009 Report on the theme of maternal and neonatal health.
the highlights of the State of the World's Children 2009 Report on the theme of maternal and neonatal health.
the highlights of the State of the World's Children 2009 Report on the theme of maternal and neonatal health.
the highlights of the State of the World's Children 2009 Report on the theme of maternal and neonatal health.
An analysis of the impact of the Global Recession on South Asian women and children. This includes individual profiles of South Asian countries
An analysis of the impact of the Global Recession on South Asian women and children. This includes individual profiles of South Asian countries
Writing a Communication Strategy for Development Program
Writing a Communication Strategy for Development Program
A guide to developing programme/project communication strategies for achieving MDGs, especially related to social and behavioural change. The guide also details a thorough analysis process at programme, participant and behavioural levels, how to use analysis results to shape communication strategies and then how to implement and monitor the strategy.
A guide to developing programme/project communication strategies for achieving MDGs, especially related to social and behavioural change. The guide also details a thorough analysis process at programme, participant and behavioural levels, how to use analysis results to shape communication strategies and then how to implement and monitor the strategy.
Assessing district progress on MDGs : trends from 2000 to 2006
Assessing district progress on MDGs : trends from 2000 to 2006
What progress the districts of Bangladesh are making on getting all the children into schools or mothers getting trained attendants for delivery? This paper looks into the trends coming out of three UNICEF-supported national scale household surveys in Bangladesh taking place in 2000, 2003 and 2006 and measures progress based on a Child Risk measure index. A total of four districts have evolved over the period from high-risk for children and mothers to medium-risk category while seven districts moved from low-risk to medium-risk category. Out of 15 variables assessed to explain the difference in performance between the districts, only two variables emerged: poverty and geographic isolation.
What progress the districts of Bangladesh are making on getting all the children into schools or mothers getting trained attendants for delivery? This paper looks into the trends coming out of three UNICEF-supported national scale household surveys in Bangladesh taking place in 2000, 2003 and 2006 and measures progress based on a Child Risk measure index. A total of four districts have evolved over the period from high-risk for children and mothers to medium-risk category while seven districts moved from low-risk to medium-risk category. Out of 15 variables assessed to explain the difference in performance between the districts, only two variables emerged: poverty and geographic isolation.
Opinions of Children of Bangladesh on Corporal Punishment
Given the limited opportunities for children to publicly express their thoughts and views, UNICEF conducted a children's opinion poll for the second time in Bangladesh in 2008. A first opinion poll was conducted in 2005. he poll surveys children across Bangladesh, including those who are socially and geographically marginalised, on significant child rights issues. The Children's Opinion Poll 2008 focuses on corporal punishment in schools, homes, and workplaces. Children were also interviewed on issues of disabilities, disasters and gender. This children’s opinion poll reveals widespread use of corporal punishment in Bangladesh with 91 per cent of children reporting that they receive physical punishment in school while 74 per cent also reported receiving physical punishment at home.
Health Impact Study Baseline Survey, Bangladesh - Full Report
Opinions of Children of Bangladesh on Corporal Punishment
The Children's Opinion Poll 2008 focuses on corporal punishment in school, home, and workplace. Children were also interviewed on issues of disabilities, disasters and gender.
Assessing district progress on MDGs : trends from 2000 to 2006
District performance trends on the progress towards the Millennium Development Goal. This is coming out of three national-scale household surveys in Bangladesh taking place in 2000, 2003 and 2006.
Writing a Communication Strategy for Development Program
This tool is a guide to developing programme/project communication strategies for achieving MDGs, especially related to social and behavioural change.
A Matter of Magnitude
An analysis of the impact of the Global Recession on South Asian women and children. This includes individual profiles of South Asian countries.
SOWC Executive Summary
The Executive Summary presents the highlights of the State of the World's Children 2009 Report on the theme of maternal and neonatal health.
The State of World's Children Report 2009 - Bangla Version
The Bangla version of State of the World’s Children 2009 contains a range of global and country specific data on the situation of children in Bangla.
Baseline Findings on Adolescents' Social Environment
This brochure presents highlights of the primary findings of the baseline survey of the second phase of the Kishori Abhijan - Empowerment of Adolescents - project, which UNICEF supports with financial assistance from the European Commission.
Third and Fourth Periodic Report on CRC
Third and Fourth Periodic Report of the Government of Bangladesh under the Convention on the Rights of the Child
The State of World's Children 2008 - Bangla Report
The State of the World’s Children 2008 provides a wide-ranging assessment of the current state of child survival and primary health care for mothers, newborns and children.
Health Impact Study Baseline Survey, Bangladesh - Full Report
The survey looks at impact on health of sanitation, hygiene, in particular, hand washing, and water quality.
Health Impact Study Baseline Survey, Bangladesh - key findings
The survey looks at impact on health of sanitation, hygiene, in particular, hand washing, and water quality.
Habits of a Lifetime
Improving children's lives through UNICEF's water, sanitation and hygiene programme in Bangladesh.
The Children's Opinion Poll 2008 focuses on corporal punishment in school, home, and workplace. Children were also interviewed on issues of disabilities, disasters and gender.
Assessing district progress on MDGs : trends from 2000 to 2006
District performance trends on the progress towards the Millennium Development Goal. This is coming out of three national-scale household surveys in Bangladesh taking place in 2000, 2003 and 2006.
Writing a Communication Strategy for Development Program
This tool is a guide to developing programme/project communication strategies for achieving MDGs, especially related to social and behavioural change.
A Matter of Magnitude
An analysis of the impact of the Global Recession on South Asian women and children. This includes individual profiles of South Asian countries.
SOWC Executive Summary
The Executive Summary presents the highlights of the State of the World's Children 2009 Report on the theme of maternal and neonatal health.
The State of World's Children Report 2009 - Bangla Version
The Bangla version of State of the World’s Children 2009 contains a range of global and country specific data on the situation of children in Bangla.
Baseline Findings on Adolescents' Social Environment
This brochure presents highlights of the primary findings of the baseline survey of the second phase of the Kishori Abhijan - Empowerment of Adolescents - project, which UNICEF supports with financial assistance from the European Commission.
Third and Fourth Periodic Report on CRC
Third and Fourth Periodic Report of the Government of Bangladesh under the Convention on the Rights of the Child
The State of World's Children 2008 - Bangla Report
The State of the World’s Children 2008 provides a wide-ranging assessment of the current state of child survival and primary health care for mothers, newborns and children.
Health Impact Study Baseline Survey, Bangladesh - Full Report
The survey looks at impact on health of sanitation, hygiene, in particular, hand washing, and water quality.
Health Impact Study Baseline Survey, Bangladesh - key findings
The survey looks at impact on health of sanitation, hygiene, in particular, hand washing, and water quality.
Habits of a Lifetime
Improving children's lives through UNICEF's water, sanitation and hygiene programme in Bangladesh.
Environment: This brochure presents highlights of the primary
Environment: This brochure presents highlights of the primary findings of the baseline survey of the second phase of the Kishori Abhijan - Empowerment of Adolescents - project, which UNICEF supports with financial assistance from the European Commission.
An independent agency, A House of Survey Research (SURCH Bangladesh), conducted the baseline survey between November 2006 and February 2007. Research officers with the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health (US) provided technical assistance for the data collection and evaluation and produced a detailed report of the findings. The larger report is available through UNICEF
Bangladesh upon request.
An independent agency, A House of Survey Research (SURCH Bangladesh), conducted the baseline survey between November 2006 and February 2007. Research officers with the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health (US) provided technical assistance for the data collection and evaluation and produced a detailed report of the findings. The larger report is available through UNICEF
Bangladesh upon request.
The State of the World’s Children 2008 provides a wide-ranging assessment of the current state of child survival and primary health care for mothers,
The State of the World’s Children 2008 provides a wide-ranging assessment of the current state of child survival and primary health care for mothers, newborns and children. It examines lessons learned in child health during the past few decades and outlines the most important emerging precepts and strategies for reducing deaths among children under age five and for providing a continuum of care for mothers, newborns and children.
Do you see my world? Rural life of Bangladesh through
20th Anniversary of the Convention on the Rights of the Child
To celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Convention on the Child, UNICEF in partnership with the European Union delegation in Bangladesh and Pathshala, South Asian Institute of Photography, is launching a photo exhibition on Sunday 22nd November in Dhaka.
Do you see my world? Rural life of Bangladesh through adolescent eyes.
To celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Convention on the Child, UNICEF in partnership with the European Union delegation in Bangladesh and Pathshala, South Asian Institute of Photography, is launching a photo exhibition on Sunday 22nd November in Dhaka.
Meena Media Awards 2009: UNICEF recognizes media for their commitment to children’s issues
A total of 19 writers, presenters, film makers and producers received the UNICEF Awards this year. The Meena Media Awards are also innovative in that they recognize child journalists under 18 who have written outstanding articles or produced high quality
UNICEF conference rings alarm bells on child poverty in South Asia
New data presented by UNICEF here today shows that 300 million children are trapped in poverty in South Asia -almost half of the children in South Asia.
National consultation takes place to review UN Committee’s observations on the situation of children’s rights in Bangladesh
The recommendations made by the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child regarding the situation of children’s rights in Bangladesh were examined today.
INVESTING IN THE FUTURE OF BANGLADESH: A UNITED CALL TO ACTION ON VITAMIN AND MINERAL DEFICIENCIES
The Canadian High Commissioner for Bangladesh, Robert McDougall and leading development agencies in Bangladesh launched a new report, “Investing in the Future: A united call to action on vitamin and mineral deficiencies”.
Around 18 million children to wash hands with soap across Bangladesh
Dhaka, 14 October 2009. An estimated 18 million children will take part in discussions and demonstrations of hand-washing with soap across the country as part of the Global Hand-washing Day observation on 15 October2009.
Children’s opinion poll reveals widespread use of corporal punishment in school, home and workplace in Bangladesh
According to a recent opinion poll, 91 per cent of children reported receiving physical punishment in school while 74 per cent also reported receiving physical punishment at home, showing a widespread use of corporal punishment in Bangladesh.
Global child mortality continues to drop
UNICEF today released new figures that show the rate of deaths of children under five years of age continued to decline in 2008.
BDInfo to herald a new dawn in the horizon of Digital Bangladesh
DHAKA, August 3, 2009: BDInfo – a national, social and economic database system to store data generated from censuses, surveys, records of management information systems – will be formally launched today (Monday) in the city’s NEC Auditorium at Sher-E-Ban
Birth Registration Day 2009 : Call for accelerated birth registration of vulnerable children
Dhaka 3 July, 2009 : National Birth Registration Day 2009 is being observed today with a call to ensure birth registration of the most vulnerable and excluded children, including refugees and children living in the remote corners of the country.
World Day against Child Labour marks the need to tackle the worst forms of exploitation
Geneva /Dhaka, 11 June 2009 : UNICEF emphasizes that all children – including girls – have a right to education. Educated girls are more likely to avoid poverty and ensure education for their own children. This can help reduce child labour, in turn.
WHO and UNICEF joint statement on Vitamin A and deworming
Dhaka, Monday 8 June 2009 : WHO and UNICEF offices in Bangladesh would like to reassure parents that Vitamin A supplementation and deworming tablets are safe and effective interventions that contribute to strengthen the health of young children.
UNICEF helps cyclone-hit families
Dhaka, 4 June 2009 : A week after Cyclone Aila hit the fifteen coastal districts of Bangladesh, the magnitude of damages only start to unfold. Among the 4.82 million affected people, children and women are particularly vulnerable.
Vitamin A supplementation campaign for more than 20 million children on 6 June, 2009
4 June 2009 : On Saturday June 6, Bangladesh will conduct a National Vitamin A Plus campaign. More than 20 million children aged 1 to 5 years will be reached with life-saving Vitamin A capsules and 19 million children will receive deworming tablets
Bangladesh presents its report to the Committee on the Rights of the Child in Geneva
Dhaka, 3 June 2009 : The Government of Bangladesh is presenting today its third and fourth periodic report on the implementation of the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) to the international Committee on the Rights of the Child in Geneva
Sport is on the agenda in Bangladesh through London Olympics 2012 programme
Dhaka, 15 May 2009 : International Inspiration, a project that forms part of the legacy programme of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games, will be formally launched in Bangladesh today, Friday, 15 May 2009 at Pan Pacific Sonargaon Hotel.
Children interview Education Minister in "Our Voice"- BTV's monthly programme
Dhaka, 27 April 2009 : Nurul Islam Nahid, Education Minister of the Government of Bangladesh, will be interviewed by children tomorrow night on Bangladesh Television (BTV) monthly programme "Our Voice" (Amader Kotha).
Bangladesh hosts Asian Conference on arsenic mitigation
Dhaka, April 5, 2009 : Today fifty-three experts and senior Government officials from 12 Asian countries are meeting in Bangladesh to discuss ways of mitigating the impact of arsenic contaminated water which put people at risk of poisoning.
Child malnutrition and household food insecurity remain major concerns for Bangladesh
Dhaka, 29 March, 2009 : One in four households in Bangladesh is food insecure while two million children aged six months to five years are affected by acute malnutrition (wasting: 13.5%), according to a recent survey released today by WFP, UNICEF
Adoption of child labour policy urged
Dhaka, 19 March 2009: Bangladesh needs to adopt a National Child Labour Policy as a matter of urgency and increase budget allocation for inclusive education, participants attending a high level seminar on “Child Labour and Education” recommended today.
Low awareness of maternal healthcare exposes children and women to high risk
11 February 2009 Dhaka : Lack of awareness about antenatal, delivery and postnatal care are predominant factors that put mothers and children’s lives at risk, according to a recent survey on maternal and neonatal health conducted in four districts.
State of the World’s Children 2009 Report: Extreme Risks for Pregnant Women and Newborn Babies in Developing Countries
DHAKA, 29 January 2009 : Speakers at the Bangladesh National Launch call for accelerating Bangladesh’s progress in saving mother and newborn lives
Bangladesh introduces new vaccine to prevent severe forms of child pneumonia and meningitis
Khulna, Bangladesh, 15 January, 2009 : Today, Bangladesh introduces a new combination vaccine that will protect its children against five killer diseases in one injection, including, for the first time, the deadly bacterium Haemophilus influenzae...
Bangladesh introduces new vaccine to prevent severe forms of child pneumonia and meningitis
KHULNA, BANGLADESH, 15 January, 2009 - Today, Bangladesh introduces a new combination vaccine that will protect its children against five killer diseases in one injection, including, for the first time, the deadly bacterium Haemophilus influenzae
Cricket stars visit centre for drug users to raise AIDS awareness
DHAKA, 11 January 2009 : A big surprise awaited the service-seekers of the drop-in centre for injecting drug users (IDUs) in Nayabazar area of the old part of the Dhaka city as international and national cricket players visited the centre on
17th National Immunisation Days to vaccinate 22m children
Dhaka, November 28, 2008: Bangladesh will immunise 22 million children under the age of five on Saturday in an effort to sustain its polio free status by providing two drops of polio vaccine to observe the first round of 17th National Immunization Days ..
World Gathers in Brazil to Reinvigorate Fight against Sexual Exploitation of Children
25 November 2008, Dhaka : Nearly 3,000 participants from over 125 countries are in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil to exchange lessons and experiences in the fight against child sexual exploitation, review progress, and reinforce commitments.
Meena Media Award 2008: UNICEF Honours Excellence in Bangladesh Children’s media
DHAKA, 11 November 2008 : Nineteen writers, presenters, film makers, directors and producers received the Meena Media Awards 2008 for their outstanding contribution to children’s issues in the print and television media in Bangladesh in the past one year.
FAO, WHO and UNICEF joint statement on Melamine Contaminated Milk
Wednesday 22 September 2008: FAO, WHO and UNICEF offices in Bangladesh would like to express their concern regarding the implication of Melamine Contaminated Milk products on infant and child nutrition and health. FAO and WHO are ready to support the ....
Millions of South Asian children make an ordinary act extraordinary
Dhaka 14 October, 2008 : In what is thought to be the biggest ever exercise of its kind, more than 120 million children across South Asia will wash their hands with soap in the same way to mark Global Hand Washing Day in the International Year of ..
Creating a protective environment for children: A challenge for Bangladesh
Dhaka, October 13, 2008 : Bangladesh will celebrate the Child Rights week under the theme “Creating a protective environment for child development” from 14 to 20 October 2008. The theme refers to the current challenges the country is facing with the ....
The Government of Bangladesh and UNICEF assess progress at mid-term of the Country Programme
Dhaka, 25 September 2008 : The Government of Bangladesh and UNICEF today held the Mid-Term Review of the Country Programme of Cooperation for Bangladeshi Children and Women which covers the five-year period from 2006 to 2010. The overall aim of the ...
Bangladesh promotes inclusive education on Meena Day
Dhaka, September 24, 2008 : Today Bangladesh is celebrating Meena Day under the theme of ‘Inclusive Education – Quality Education to end exclusion’. Bangladesh has recorded remarkable successes in increasing national rates of school enrollment over the ..
Channel I Wins International Children’s Broadcating Day of Broadcasting (ICDB) Regional Award
Dhaka, 21 September 2008: UNICEF and the International Academy of Television Arts and Sciences have jointly announced the winners of the 2008 International Children's Day of Broadcasting (ICDB) Regional Awards. Channel I from Bangladesh won ...
Supporting mothers to breastfeed will improve children’s chances of survival, says UNICEF
NEW YORK/DHAKA, 1 August 2008 : On the occasion of World Breastfeeding Week (1 to 7 August), UNICEF, along with the World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action (WABA) and the World Health Organization (WHO), is recommending the provision of increased ....
Twenty Four health facilities get award for excellence in Emergency Obstetric Care services
DHAKA, July 21, 2008 : A total of 24 health facilities from six divisions under the Directorate General of Health Services – one Upazilla Health Complex and one District Hospital in each division – received best performing award for their excellence ..
Call to prioritize children in the national birth registration campaign
Dhaka 3 July 2008 : Today, for the second time, Bangladesh observed national Birth Registration Day, calling for the prioritization of children in the national birth registration campaign and for a systematic registration of children at birth.
National launch of the State of the World Children 08
Dhaka 3 July 2008 : Strategies that can help reduce the number of children who die before their fifth birthday were highlighted today at the national launch of UNICEF’s flagship report - The State of the World’s Children 2008: Child Survival – in Dhaka
Increase in Australian Aid to Bangladesh to benefit women and children
Wednesday 21 May, 2008 : Australia is expanding its aid to Bangladesh with a four year BDT 520 crore donation to lift the extreme poor out of poverty and improve the health of women and children.
Bangladesh conducts Vitamin A supplementation campaign for 19 million children
Thursday, 8 May 2008 : Bangladesh will conduct a National Vitamin A Plus Campaign. About 19 million children aged 1 to 5 years will be reached with life-saving Vitamin A capsules and 17 million children aged 2 to 5 years will receive deworming tablets.
Policy-makers gather to discuss social protection strategies in South Asia
Dhaka, 15 April 2008 : Policy-makers from eight countries of South Asia gathered in Dhaka, Bangladesh, to examine the role that Social Protection could play in reducing poverty and inequalities in the region during a policy-makers’ Symposium ...
Policy-makers in South Asia gather to discuss social protection strategies for children
DHAKA, 15 April 2008 - Policy-makers from eight countries of South Asia today gathered in Dhaka for a symposium organized by UNICEF on how social protection systems, legislation and policies can contribute towards fulfilling the rights of the child
UNICEF Regional Director for South Asia calls on the Foreign Affairs and Finance Advisers
Dhaka, 13 April 2008 : Mr. Daniel Toole, UNICEF’s newly appointed Regional Director for South Asia, on his first visit to Bangladesh today called on Mr. Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury, the Adviser for Foreign Affairs and Mr. A B Mirza M Azizul Islam.
Bangladesh launches the International Year of Sanitation: Speakers call for improved hygiene practices
Dhaka, 23 March 2008 : The Government of Bangladesh launched the International Year of Sanitation country programme as part of the celebrations for World Water Day 2008. The launch was attended by civil society groups and development partners...
Injury a leading killer of children in Asia: Groundbreaking research highlights need for injury prevention
Dhaka, 11 March 2008 : Children in Asia are at great risk of dying from injuries such as drowning and road accidents. Surveys from Bangladesh, China, the Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam reveal that injury is the leading cause of death and disability ...
Shakira visits cyclone affected areas and UNICEF education projects in rural Bangladesh
DHAKA, December 19 2007 - Celebrated international musician and UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador Shakira visited Bangladesh between December 17 and 19 to see for herself the post-cyclone Sidr reconstruction efforts and UNICEF education projects.
Sweden to support UNICEF in protection and education of Sidr-affected children
DHAKA, December 11, 2007 : Sweden has made a contribution of 24.3 million Swedish Kronor (approximately US$ 3.5 million) to UNICEF through the Swedish International Development Co-operation Agency (Sida) to assist the child survivors of November 15 Sidr.
Twenty two writers and producers win Meena Media Award 2007 for outstanding work in Children’s Media
DHAKA, December 10, 2007 : The Meena Media Awards 2007 were distributed among the 22 winning recipients Tuesday in the city amid hopes of further advancing children’s causes in the country’s ever-expansive media landscape.
UNICEF reaches cyclone hit children and families with life-saving supplies
DHAKA, 7 December 2007 - UNICEF is assisting an estimated 72,000 children and 109,000 families with life-saving supplies, food and shelter for the cyclone survivors in Bangladesh.
Children living in dangerous conditions following the aftermath of Bangladesh cyclone
GENEVA - DHAKA, November 30 2007 - The risk of diarrhoea, acute respiratory infection and other cold related diseases continue to pose a serious threat to children in the aftermath of Cyclone Sidr which struck Bangladesh on November 15.
UNICEF concerned about looming health threat while stepping up programmes for children affected by Cyclone Sidr
DHAKA, 23 November 2007 - A week after devastating Cyclone Sidr struck Bangladesh, UNICEF is concerned that hundreds of thousands of children across the affected areas remain vulnerable to the threat of disease
UNICEF is mobilizing US$20 million for immediate and longer term support to Cyclone affected children and women
DHAKA, 20 November, 2007 : UNICEF is substantially increasing support to children and women in the districts worst affected by the recent Cyclone Sidr.
Nearly half of affected population in Bangladesh are children, says UNICEF
DHAKA, 20 November 2007–More than four days after Cyclone Sidr ripped through the coastline of Bangladesh, wreaking carnage upon mostly poor coastal dwelling communities, the official death count now stands at just under 3000 according to the latest govt.
Sixteenth NIDs to provide polio vaccine, Vitamin A and deworming doses to more than 22m children
Dhaka, October 26, 2007: Bangladesh will conduct the first round of 16th National Immunization Days (NIDs) on Saturday, 27 October, during which more than 22 million children up to 5 years of age will be administered polio vaccines and Vitamin A capsules.
UNICEF Goodwill Ambassadors continue to support women and children
DHAKA, October 2, 2007 : Three of Bangladesh’s top sporting idols – national cricket captain Mohammad Ashraful, former national skipper Habibul Bashar, and Guinness Book of Records-famed table tennis star Zobera Rahman Linu – recently renewed their ..
Children use Meena Day to advocate birth registration
September 24, 2007, Dhaka : Children and adolescents assembled today at different parts of the city to celebrate Meena Day with renewed commitment of ensuring birth registration for all children. They expressed their collective commitment through..
Meena Day 2007 Promotes Birth Registration for All
Sept 23, 2007, Dhaka : The rights of children will get a boost today as Meena Day is celebrated across the country. Meena Day is commemorated every year with the aim of highlighting issues that are important to children while also recognizing the ..
Displaced children face rejection from their community and family
Dhaka, Sept 13, 2007 : Children and women rescued from trafficking or hazardous jobs are facing huge challenges integrating with their families and societies due to the lack of a supportive environment.
National consultation held to shape final CRC state party reports
Dhaka, August 2, 2007: The final round of national consultation on the UN Convention on Rights of the Child (CRC) 3rd and 4th State Party report was held in the city today.
Bangladesh MICS 2006: Iodized salt, breastfeeding, immunization coverage, primary school attendance on the rise
Dhaka, 25 July 2007: About four in 10 infants aged 0-5 months are exclusively breastfed; 8 out of 10 households consume iodized salt; about 8 in 10 primary school age children attend school; and about 9 in 10 children aged 12-23 months are protected ...
A mix of entertainment and information promotes girls’ education in Bangladesh
Dhaka, July 11, 2007: “Alo Amar Alo”, a 26-episode television drama serial that promotes girls’ education in Bangladesh, was launched on July 11, 2007. 'Alo Amar Alo', centers around a girl named ‘Alo’ who stops going to school when she completes Class-V
Bangladesh declares first ever national Birth Registration Day
Dhaka 3 July 2007: The Government of Bangladesh has officially declared today 3 July 2007 as Birth Registration Day to highlight the importance of birth registration for every child and adult in the country. One of the main pillars of today’s celebration.
$31 million donation will help Bangladesh to reduce maternal and neonatal deaths
Dhaka, 7th June, 2007 : The health and well being of mothers and newborns has received a significant boost with UK Department for International Development (DFID) and the European Commission (EC) support worth $31.2 million. The funding will support ...
Bangladesh water and sanitation sector leads the way for Ghana mission
Dhaka 5 June, 2007: A high level government learning mission from Ghana has ended successfully after 10 days in Bangladesh. The 11 member mission from the West African country spent more than a week viewing best practices in the water and sanitation secto
Adolescent Empowerment project changes lives of thousands
Dhaka, April 29, 2007 : Thousands of adolescents across the country have been equipped with knowledge on social issues and life skills-based education through the “Kishori Abhijan” project supported by UNICEF.
UNICEF invites participation in Meena Media Award 2007.
April 12, 2007: Meena Media Award was introduced in 2005 by UNICEF to recognize outstanding work on Child Rights in print and broadcast media to improve the lives of children in Bangladesh. UNICEF-Bangladesh invites participation in Meena Media Award 2007
Netherlands and UNICEF sign agreement to promote birth registration
Dhaka, March 27, 2007: The Netherlands Minister for Development Co-operation and UNICEF signed an agreement to support the Government of Bangladesh in promoting a sustainable and functional birth registration system.
Water and sanitation project launched to benefit 30 million people across Bangladesh
Dhaka, March 21, 2007 : The Sanitation, Hygiene Education and Water Supply in Bangladesh (SHEWA-B) project was formally launched Wednesday to ensure access to improved water supply and sanitation for 30 million people in 34 of the poorest districts ...
ICC Cricket World Cup West Indies 2007 to Shine Spotlight on Children and Young People Affected by HIV. Youth-focused HIV Prevention Campaign to Premiere Before Audience of Two Billion.
Dhaka 07 March, 2007: The International Cricket Council (ICC) will team up with UNAIDS, UNICEF and the Caribbean Broadcast Media Partnership on HIV/AIDS at the ICC Cricket World Cup 2007 to highlight the situation of children and young people living...
Despite Progress, Girls Subjected to Violence and Discrimination
Dhaka 07 March, 2007 : Violence against women and girls is one of the most extreme forms of inequality, UNICEF Executive Director Ann M. Veneman said today on the occasion of the 51st Session of the UN Commission on the Status of Women.
UNICEF photo exhibition on CHT begins at Drik on Sunday
Dhaka March 03, 2007: A week-long photography exhibition titled “The Hill Children of Bangladesh” by Mahmud of MAP Photo Agency will kick off at the Drik Gallery at the city’s Dhanmondi area Sunday.
More than 22 million children to be immunized against polio across Bangladesh
Dhaka, March 2, 2007: Bangladesh will immunize more than 22m children under the age of five in order to eradicate the re-emergence of polio. The 1st round of the 15th National Immunization Days will be held on Saturday, March 3rd, while the 2nd round ..
Avian Influenza training will benefit 28 million people
Dhaka, 18th February 2007 : A country-wide training program on Avian and Human Pandemic Influenza that will eventually reach 28 million people was launched on Saturday by the honorable adviser for Ministry of Health and Family Welfare...
DFID and UNICEF in partnership with the GoB to improve sanitation and hygiene for 30 million people across Bangladesh
Dhaka, January 23, 2007 : In a simple ceremony held in the city today, the UK Department for International Development (DFID) and UNICEF signed an agreement to support the Government of Bangladesh in implementing improved sanitation and hygiene programmes
Second round of floods expected in Bangladesh
BANGLADESH, 14 September 2007 - Bangladesh is bracing itself for potentially devastating new flooding after major rivers swelled ‘alarmingly’ and exceeded or neared danger levels, according to the governments Flood Forecasting Centre.
Bangladesh declares first ever national Birth Registration Day
DHAKA, 3 July 2007- The Government of Bangladesh has officially declared 3 July 2007 as Birth Registration Day to highlight the importance of birth registration for every child and adult in the country.
30 million people across Bangladesh to benefit from DFID/UNICEF partnership on water and sanitation
DHAKA, 23 January 2007 - The UK DFID and UNICEF signed an agreement worth US$ 62.8 million to support the Government of Bangladesh to implement improved water supply and sanitation programmes reaching 30 million people across the country from 2007-2011.
UAE commits $9 million to help former camel jockeys
To celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Convention on the Child, UNICEF in partnership with the European Union delegation in Bangladesh and Pathshala, South Asian Institute of Photography, is launching a photo exhibition on Sunday 22nd November in Dhaka.
New cases of polio prompts further immunization drive in Bangladesh
DHAKA, 4 August 2006 – Only one month after completing three polio National Immunisation Days (NIDs), the Government of Bangladesh has ordered a further three polio NIDs this year in response to at least 10 new cases of polio detected in the country.
Bangladesh responds to first case of polio in five years with massive immunisation campaign
Dhaka, 16th March, 2006 - Bangladesh will immunize 18 million children under the age of five years three times in the next three months due to the re-emergence of the poliovirus after an absence of the disease for more than five years.
Bangladesh prepares for its largest public health campaign: 33.5 million children vaccinated against measles in three weeks
DHAKA / GENEVA, 17th February 2006: Bangladesh is getting ready to mount the biggest Measles vaccination campaign in the world from 25th February-16th March 2006.
To celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Convention on the Child, UNICEF in partnership with the European Union delegation in Bangladesh and Pathshala, South Asian Institute of Photography, is launching a photo exhibition on Sunday 22nd November in Dhaka.
Do you see my world? Rural life of Bangladesh through adolescent eyes.
To celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Convention on the Child, UNICEF in partnership with the European Union delegation in Bangladesh and Pathshala, South Asian Institute of Photography, is launching a photo exhibition on Sunday 22nd November in Dhaka.
Meena Media Awards 2009: UNICEF recognizes media for their commitment to children’s issues
A total of 19 writers, presenters, film makers and producers received the UNICEF Awards this year. The Meena Media Awards are also innovative in that they recognize child journalists under 18 who have written outstanding articles or produced high quality
UNICEF conference rings alarm bells on child poverty in South Asia
New data presented by UNICEF here today shows that 300 million children are trapped in poverty in South Asia -almost half of the children in South Asia.
National consultation takes place to review UN Committee’s observations on the situation of children’s rights in Bangladesh
The recommendations made by the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child regarding the situation of children’s rights in Bangladesh were examined today.
INVESTING IN THE FUTURE OF BANGLADESH: A UNITED CALL TO ACTION ON VITAMIN AND MINERAL DEFICIENCIES
The Canadian High Commissioner for Bangladesh, Robert McDougall and leading development agencies in Bangladesh launched a new report, “Investing in the Future: A united call to action on vitamin and mineral deficiencies”.
Around 18 million children to wash hands with soap across Bangladesh
Dhaka, 14 October 2009. An estimated 18 million children will take part in discussions and demonstrations of hand-washing with soap across the country as part of the Global Hand-washing Day observation on 15 October2009.
Children’s opinion poll reveals widespread use of corporal punishment in school, home and workplace in Bangladesh
According to a recent opinion poll, 91 per cent of children reported receiving physical punishment in school while 74 per cent also reported receiving physical punishment at home, showing a widespread use of corporal punishment in Bangladesh.
Global child mortality continues to drop
UNICEF today released new figures that show the rate of deaths of children under five years of age continued to decline in 2008.
BDInfo to herald a new dawn in the horizon of Digital Bangladesh
DHAKA, August 3, 2009: BDInfo – a national, social and economic database system to store data generated from censuses, surveys, records of management information systems – will be formally launched today (Monday) in the city’s NEC Auditorium at Sher-E-Ban
Birth Registration Day 2009 : Call for accelerated birth registration of vulnerable children
Dhaka 3 July, 2009 : National Birth Registration Day 2009 is being observed today with a call to ensure birth registration of the most vulnerable and excluded children, including refugees and children living in the remote corners of the country.
World Day against Child Labour marks the need to tackle the worst forms of exploitation
Geneva /Dhaka, 11 June 2009 : UNICEF emphasizes that all children – including girls – have a right to education. Educated girls are more likely to avoid poverty and ensure education for their own children. This can help reduce child labour, in turn.
WHO and UNICEF joint statement on Vitamin A and deworming
Dhaka, Monday 8 June 2009 : WHO and UNICEF offices in Bangladesh would like to reassure parents that Vitamin A supplementation and deworming tablets are safe and effective interventions that contribute to strengthen the health of young children.
UNICEF helps cyclone-hit families
Dhaka, 4 June 2009 : A week after Cyclone Aila hit the fifteen coastal districts of Bangladesh, the magnitude of damages only start to unfold. Among the 4.82 million affected people, children and women are particularly vulnerable.
Vitamin A supplementation campaign for more than 20 million children on 6 June, 2009
4 June 2009 : On Saturday June 6, Bangladesh will conduct a National Vitamin A Plus campaign. More than 20 million children aged 1 to 5 years will be reached with life-saving Vitamin A capsules and 19 million children will receive deworming tablets
Bangladesh presents its report to the Committee on the Rights of the Child in Geneva
Dhaka, 3 June 2009 : The Government of Bangladesh is presenting today its third and fourth periodic report on the implementation of the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) to the international Committee on the Rights of the Child in Geneva
Sport is on the agenda in Bangladesh through London Olympics 2012 programme
Dhaka, 15 May 2009 : International Inspiration, a project that forms part of the legacy programme of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games, will be formally launched in Bangladesh today, Friday, 15 May 2009 at Pan Pacific Sonargaon Hotel.
Children interview Education Minister in "Our Voice"- BTV's monthly programme
Dhaka, 27 April 2009 : Nurul Islam Nahid, Education Minister of the Government of Bangladesh, will be interviewed by children tomorrow night on Bangladesh Television (BTV) monthly programme "Our Voice" (Amader Kotha).
Bangladesh hosts Asian Conference on arsenic mitigation
Dhaka, April 5, 2009 : Today fifty-three experts and senior Government officials from 12 Asian countries are meeting in Bangladesh to discuss ways of mitigating the impact of arsenic contaminated water which put people at risk of poisoning.
Child malnutrition and household food insecurity remain major concerns for Bangladesh
Dhaka, 29 March, 2009 : One in four households in Bangladesh is food insecure while two million children aged six months to five years are affected by acute malnutrition (wasting: 13.5%), according to a recent survey released today by WFP, UNICEF
Adoption of child labour policy urged
Dhaka, 19 March 2009: Bangladesh needs to adopt a National Child Labour Policy as a matter of urgency and increase budget allocation for inclusive education, participants attending a high level seminar on “Child Labour and Education” recommended today.
Low awareness of maternal healthcare exposes children and women to high risk
11 February 2009 Dhaka : Lack of awareness about antenatal, delivery and postnatal care are predominant factors that put mothers and children’s lives at risk, according to a recent survey on maternal and neonatal health conducted in four districts.
State of the World’s Children 2009 Report: Extreme Risks for Pregnant Women and Newborn Babies in Developing Countries
DHAKA, 29 January 2009 : Speakers at the Bangladesh National Launch call for accelerating Bangladesh’s progress in saving mother and newborn lives
Bangladesh introduces new vaccine to prevent severe forms of child pneumonia and meningitis
Khulna, Bangladesh, 15 January, 2009 : Today, Bangladesh introduces a new combination vaccine that will protect its children against five killer diseases in one injection, including, for the first time, the deadly bacterium Haemophilus influenzae...
Bangladesh introduces new vaccine to prevent severe forms of child pneumonia and meningitis
KHULNA, BANGLADESH, 15 January, 2009 - Today, Bangladesh introduces a new combination vaccine that will protect its children against five killer diseases in one injection, including, for the first time, the deadly bacterium Haemophilus influenzae
Cricket stars visit centre for drug users to raise AIDS awareness
DHAKA, 11 January 2009 : A big surprise awaited the service-seekers of the drop-in centre for injecting drug users (IDUs) in Nayabazar area of the old part of the Dhaka city as international and national cricket players visited the centre on
17th National Immunisation Days to vaccinate 22m children
Dhaka, November 28, 2008: Bangladesh will immunise 22 million children under the age of five on Saturday in an effort to sustain its polio free status by providing two drops of polio vaccine to observe the first round of 17th National Immunization Days ..
World Gathers in Brazil to Reinvigorate Fight against Sexual Exploitation of Children
25 November 2008, Dhaka : Nearly 3,000 participants from over 125 countries are in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil to exchange lessons and experiences in the fight against child sexual exploitation, review progress, and reinforce commitments.
Meena Media Award 2008: UNICEF Honours Excellence in Bangladesh Children’s media
DHAKA, 11 November 2008 : Nineteen writers, presenters, film makers, directors and producers received the Meena Media Awards 2008 for their outstanding contribution to children’s issues in the print and television media in Bangladesh in the past one year.
FAO, WHO and UNICEF joint statement on Melamine Contaminated Milk
Wednesday 22 September 2008: FAO, WHO and UNICEF offices in Bangladesh would like to express their concern regarding the implication of Melamine Contaminated Milk products on infant and child nutrition and health. FAO and WHO are ready to support the ....
Millions of South Asian children make an ordinary act extraordinary
Dhaka 14 October, 2008 : In what is thought to be the biggest ever exercise of its kind, more than 120 million children across South Asia will wash their hands with soap in the same way to mark Global Hand Washing Day in the International Year of ..
Creating a protective environment for children: A challenge for Bangladesh
Dhaka, October 13, 2008 : Bangladesh will celebrate the Child Rights week under the theme “Creating a protective environment for child development” from 14 to 20 October 2008. The theme refers to the current challenges the country is facing with the ....
The Government of Bangladesh and UNICEF assess progress at mid-term of the Country Programme
Dhaka, 25 September 2008 : The Government of Bangladesh and UNICEF today held the Mid-Term Review of the Country Programme of Cooperation for Bangladeshi Children and Women which covers the five-year period from 2006 to 2010. The overall aim of the ...
Bangladesh promotes inclusive education on Meena Day
Dhaka, September 24, 2008 : Today Bangladesh is celebrating Meena Day under the theme of ‘Inclusive Education – Quality Education to end exclusion’. Bangladesh has recorded remarkable successes in increasing national rates of school enrollment over the ..
Channel I Wins International Children’s Broadcating Day of Broadcasting (ICDB) Regional Award
Dhaka, 21 September 2008: UNICEF and the International Academy of Television Arts and Sciences have jointly announced the winners of the 2008 International Children's Day of Broadcasting (ICDB) Regional Awards. Channel I from Bangladesh won ...
Supporting mothers to breastfeed will improve children’s chances of survival, says UNICEF
NEW YORK/DHAKA, 1 August 2008 : On the occasion of World Breastfeeding Week (1 to 7 August), UNICEF, along with the World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action (WABA) and the World Health Organization (WHO), is recommending the provision of increased ....
Twenty Four health facilities get award for excellence in Emergency Obstetric Care services
DHAKA, July 21, 2008 : A total of 24 health facilities from six divisions under the Directorate General of Health Services – one Upazilla Health Complex and one District Hospital in each division – received best performing award for their excellence ..
Call to prioritize children in the national birth registration campaign
Dhaka 3 July 2008 : Today, for the second time, Bangladesh observed national Birth Registration Day, calling for the prioritization of children in the national birth registration campaign and for a systematic registration of children at birth.
National launch of the State of the World Children 08
Dhaka 3 July 2008 : Strategies that can help reduce the number of children who die before their fifth birthday were highlighted today at the national launch of UNICEF’s flagship report - The State of the World’s Children 2008: Child Survival – in Dhaka
Increase in Australian Aid to Bangladesh to benefit women and children
Wednesday 21 May, 2008 : Australia is expanding its aid to Bangladesh with a four year BDT 520 crore donation to lift the extreme poor out of poverty and improve the health of women and children.
Bangladesh conducts Vitamin A supplementation campaign for 19 million children
Thursday, 8 May 2008 : Bangladesh will conduct a National Vitamin A Plus Campaign. About 19 million children aged 1 to 5 years will be reached with life-saving Vitamin A capsules and 17 million children aged 2 to 5 years will receive deworming tablets.
Policy-makers gather to discuss social protection strategies in South Asia
Dhaka, 15 April 2008 : Policy-makers from eight countries of South Asia gathered in Dhaka, Bangladesh, to examine the role that Social Protection could play in reducing poverty and inequalities in the region during a policy-makers’ Symposium ...
Policy-makers in South Asia gather to discuss social protection strategies for children
DHAKA, 15 April 2008 - Policy-makers from eight countries of South Asia today gathered in Dhaka for a symposium organized by UNICEF on how social protection systems, legislation and policies can contribute towards fulfilling the rights of the child
UNICEF Regional Director for South Asia calls on the Foreign Affairs and Finance Advisers
Dhaka, 13 April 2008 : Mr. Daniel Toole, UNICEF’s newly appointed Regional Director for South Asia, on his first visit to Bangladesh today called on Mr. Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury, the Adviser for Foreign Affairs and Mr. A B Mirza M Azizul Islam.
Bangladesh launches the International Year of Sanitation: Speakers call for improved hygiene practices
Dhaka, 23 March 2008 : The Government of Bangladesh launched the International Year of Sanitation country programme as part of the celebrations for World Water Day 2008. The launch was attended by civil society groups and development partners...
Injury a leading killer of children in Asia: Groundbreaking research highlights need for injury prevention
Dhaka, 11 March 2008 : Children in Asia are at great risk of dying from injuries such as drowning and road accidents. Surveys from Bangladesh, China, the Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam reveal that injury is the leading cause of death and disability ...
Shakira visits cyclone affected areas and UNICEF education projects in rural Bangladesh
DHAKA, December 19 2007 - Celebrated international musician and UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador Shakira visited Bangladesh between December 17 and 19 to see for herself the post-cyclone Sidr reconstruction efforts and UNICEF education projects.
Sweden to support UNICEF in protection and education of Sidr-affected children
DHAKA, December 11, 2007 : Sweden has made a contribution of 24.3 million Swedish Kronor (approximately US$ 3.5 million) to UNICEF through the Swedish International Development Co-operation Agency (Sida) to assist the child survivors of November 15 Sidr.
Twenty two writers and producers win Meena Media Award 2007 for outstanding work in Children’s Media
DHAKA, December 10, 2007 : The Meena Media Awards 2007 were distributed among the 22 winning recipients Tuesday in the city amid hopes of further advancing children’s causes in the country’s ever-expansive media landscape.
UNICEF reaches cyclone hit children and families with life-saving supplies
DHAKA, 7 December 2007 - UNICEF is assisting an estimated 72,000 children and 109,000 families with life-saving supplies, food and shelter for the cyclone survivors in Bangladesh.
Children living in dangerous conditions following the aftermath of Bangladesh cyclone
GENEVA - DHAKA, November 30 2007 - The risk of diarrhoea, acute respiratory infection and other cold related diseases continue to pose a serious threat to children in the aftermath of Cyclone Sidr which struck Bangladesh on November 15.
UNICEF concerned about looming health threat while stepping up programmes for children affected by Cyclone Sidr
DHAKA, 23 November 2007 - A week after devastating Cyclone Sidr struck Bangladesh, UNICEF is concerned that hundreds of thousands of children across the affected areas remain vulnerable to the threat of disease
UNICEF is mobilizing US$20 million for immediate and longer term support to Cyclone affected children and women
DHAKA, 20 November, 2007 : UNICEF is substantially increasing support to children and women in the districts worst affected by the recent Cyclone Sidr.
Nearly half of affected population in Bangladesh are children, says UNICEF
DHAKA, 20 November 2007–More than four days after Cyclone Sidr ripped through the coastline of Bangladesh, wreaking carnage upon mostly poor coastal dwelling communities, the official death count now stands at just under 3000 according to the latest govt.
Sixteenth NIDs to provide polio vaccine, Vitamin A and deworming doses to more than 22m children
Dhaka, October 26, 2007: Bangladesh will conduct the first round of 16th National Immunization Days (NIDs) on Saturday, 27 October, during which more than 22 million children up to 5 years of age will be administered polio vaccines and Vitamin A capsules.
UNICEF Goodwill Ambassadors continue to support women and children
DHAKA, October 2, 2007 : Three of Bangladesh’s top sporting idols – national cricket captain Mohammad Ashraful, former national skipper Habibul Bashar, and Guinness Book of Records-famed table tennis star Zobera Rahman Linu – recently renewed their ..
Children use Meena Day to advocate birth registration
September 24, 2007, Dhaka : Children and adolescents assembled today at different parts of the city to celebrate Meena Day with renewed commitment of ensuring birth registration for all children. They expressed their collective commitment through..
Meena Day 2007 Promotes Birth Registration for All
Sept 23, 2007, Dhaka : The rights of children will get a boost today as Meena Day is celebrated across the country. Meena Day is commemorated every year with the aim of highlighting issues that are important to children while also recognizing the ..
Displaced children face rejection from their community and family
Dhaka, Sept 13, 2007 : Children and women rescued from trafficking or hazardous jobs are facing huge challenges integrating with their families and societies due to the lack of a supportive environment.
National consultation held to shape final CRC state party reports
Dhaka, August 2, 2007: The final round of national consultation on the UN Convention on Rights of the Child (CRC) 3rd and 4th State Party report was held in the city today.
Bangladesh MICS 2006: Iodized salt, breastfeeding, immunization coverage, primary school attendance on the rise
Dhaka, 25 July 2007: About four in 10 infants aged 0-5 months are exclusively breastfed; 8 out of 10 households consume iodized salt; about 8 in 10 primary school age children attend school; and about 9 in 10 children aged 12-23 months are protected ...
A mix of entertainment and information promotes girls’ education in Bangladesh
Dhaka, July 11, 2007: “Alo Amar Alo”, a 26-episode television drama serial that promotes girls’ education in Bangladesh, was launched on July 11, 2007. 'Alo Amar Alo', centers around a girl named ‘Alo’ who stops going to school when she completes Class-V
Bangladesh declares first ever national Birth Registration Day
Dhaka 3 July 2007: The Government of Bangladesh has officially declared today 3 July 2007 as Birth Registration Day to highlight the importance of birth registration for every child and adult in the country. One of the main pillars of today’s celebration.
$31 million donation will help Bangladesh to reduce maternal and neonatal deaths
Dhaka, 7th June, 2007 : The health and well being of mothers and newborns has received a significant boost with UK Department for International Development (DFID) and the European Commission (EC) support worth $31.2 million. The funding will support ...
Bangladesh water and sanitation sector leads the way for Ghana mission
Dhaka 5 June, 2007: A high level government learning mission from Ghana has ended successfully after 10 days in Bangladesh. The 11 member mission from the West African country spent more than a week viewing best practices in the water and sanitation secto
Adolescent Empowerment project changes lives of thousands
Dhaka, April 29, 2007 : Thousands of adolescents across the country have been equipped with knowledge on social issues and life skills-based education through the “Kishori Abhijan” project supported by UNICEF.
UNICEF invites participation in Meena Media Award 2007.
April 12, 2007: Meena Media Award was introduced in 2005 by UNICEF to recognize outstanding work on Child Rights in print and broadcast media to improve the lives of children in Bangladesh. UNICEF-Bangladesh invites participation in Meena Media Award 2007
Netherlands and UNICEF sign agreement to promote birth registration
Dhaka, March 27, 2007: The Netherlands Minister for Development Co-operation and UNICEF signed an agreement to support the Government of Bangladesh in promoting a sustainable and functional birth registration system.
Water and sanitation project launched to benefit 30 million people across Bangladesh
Dhaka, March 21, 2007 : The Sanitation, Hygiene Education and Water Supply in Bangladesh (SHEWA-B) project was formally launched Wednesday to ensure access to improved water supply and sanitation for 30 million people in 34 of the poorest districts ...
ICC Cricket World Cup West Indies 2007 to Shine Spotlight on Children and Young People Affected by HIV. Youth-focused HIV Prevention Campaign to Premiere Before Audience of Two Billion.
Dhaka 07 March, 2007: The International Cricket Council (ICC) will team up with UNAIDS, UNICEF and the Caribbean Broadcast Media Partnership on HIV/AIDS at the ICC Cricket World Cup 2007 to highlight the situation of children and young people living...
Despite Progress, Girls Subjected to Violence and Discrimination
Dhaka 07 March, 2007 : Violence against women and girls is one of the most extreme forms of inequality, UNICEF Executive Director Ann M. Veneman said today on the occasion of the 51st Session of the UN Commission on the Status of Women.
UNICEF photo exhibition on CHT begins at Drik on Sunday
Dhaka March 03, 2007: A week-long photography exhibition titled “The Hill Children of Bangladesh” by Mahmud of MAP Photo Agency will kick off at the Drik Gallery at the city’s Dhanmondi area Sunday.
More than 22 million children to be immunized against polio across Bangladesh
Dhaka, March 2, 2007: Bangladesh will immunize more than 22m children under the age of five in order to eradicate the re-emergence of polio. The 1st round of the 15th National Immunization Days will be held on Saturday, March 3rd, while the 2nd round ..
Avian Influenza training will benefit 28 million people
Dhaka, 18th February 2007 : A country-wide training program on Avian and Human Pandemic Influenza that will eventually reach 28 million people was launched on Saturday by the honorable adviser for Ministry of Health and Family Welfare...
DFID and UNICEF in partnership with the GoB to improve sanitation and hygiene for 30 million people across Bangladesh
Dhaka, January 23, 2007 : In a simple ceremony held in the city today, the UK Department for International Development (DFID) and UNICEF signed an agreement to support the Government of Bangladesh in implementing improved sanitation and hygiene programmes
Second round of floods expected in Bangladesh
BANGLADESH, 14 September 2007 - Bangladesh is bracing itself for potentially devastating new flooding after major rivers swelled ‘alarmingly’ and exceeded or neared danger levels, according to the governments Flood Forecasting Centre.
Bangladesh declares first ever national Birth Registration Day
DHAKA, 3 July 2007- The Government of Bangladesh has officially declared 3 July 2007 as Birth Registration Day to highlight the importance of birth registration for every child and adult in the country.
30 million people across Bangladesh to benefit from DFID/UNICEF partnership on water and sanitation
DHAKA, 23 January 2007 - The UK DFID and UNICEF signed an agreement worth US$ 62.8 million to support the Government of Bangladesh to implement improved water supply and sanitation programmes reaching 30 million people across the country from 2007-2011.
UAE commits $9 million to help former camel jockeys
To celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Convention on the Child, UNICEF in partnership with the European Union delegation in Bangladesh and Pathshala, South Asian Institute of Photography, is launching a photo exhibition on Sunday 22nd November in Dhaka.
New cases of polio prompts further immunization drive in Bangladesh
DHAKA, 4 August 2006 – Only one month after completing three polio National Immunisation Days (NIDs), the Government of Bangladesh has ordered a further three polio NIDs this year in response to at least 10 new cases of polio detected in the country.
Bangladesh responds to first case of polio in five years with massive immunisation campaign
Dhaka, 16th March, 2006 - Bangladesh will immunize 18 million children under the age of five years three times in the next three months due to the re-emergence of the poliovirus after an absence of the disease for more than five years.
Bangladesh prepares for its largest public health campaign: 33.5 million children vaccinated against measles in three weeks
DHAKA / GENEVA, 17th February 2006: Bangladesh is getting ready to mount the biggest Measles vaccination campaign in the world from 25th February-16th March 2006.
BARGUNA, Bangladesh, 29 June 2009 – Cyclone Aila swept through south-west Bangladesh on 25 May, reducing homes to rubble, destroying crops and leaving
BARGUNA, Bangladesh, 29 June 2009 – Cyclone Aila swept through south-west Bangladesh on 25 May, reducing homes to rubble, destroying crops and leaving villagers without safe water or sanitation. In the weeks since, local communities have been struggling to cope with the storm's impact.
People had barely recovered from the devastation of last year’s Cyclone Sidr when Cyclone Aila struck, affecting more than 4 million people.
In the remote coastal village of Hoglapasha, an old timber house with a palm leaf roof belonging to 80-year-old Nirod Chandra Roy was reduced to debris. Mr. Roy built a makeshift shelter with the bits and pieces of his old home that he found lying around. He survived in this shelter, without food or water, until relief workers finally were able to reach him.
“We were under chest-deep water for at least three days and hardly had any dry place for shelter. With surging tides and gusts, Aila swept away almost everything,” Mr. Roy said, visibly shaken.
Young volunteers help families
Now, a UNICEF-supported programme called ‘Empowerment of Adolescents’ is giving cyclone-affected villagers hope and disseminating life-saving information during a difficult time. Through the programme, young people have been trained on how to help minimize the damage to life and property – as well as give moral support to community members – in pre- and post-disaster situations.
The volunteers work in conjuction with the Department of Public Health Engineering to reach out to cyclone-affected families. They teach villagers how to make sure their water is safe to drink and how to prepare oral saline solutions for treating dehydration.
The programme is funded by the European Union and implemented by UNICEF in collaboration with a non-governmental organization, the Centre for Mass Education and Science. Since May, the centre has been training adolescents in disaster-prone communities to help their own families, as well as the families of their neighbours, during emergencies.
‘They give us motivation to fight’
Young volunteers visited Mr. Roy in his shelter, bringing him UNICEF-supplied water purification tablets and jerry cans. They also provided support and hope for the future. “It is hard for families who’ve lost almost everything to survive and make a normal living,” said one of the volunteers in Hoglapasha village, Monoj Mojumdar.
After leaving Mr. Roy's shelter, the volunteers visited a fisherman’s family. They explained how several folds of used cotton cloth can help filter contaminated pond water before boiling.
The volunteers regularly visit about 50 families to make sure they are drinking safe water and maintaining proper hygiene and sanitation practices. “We are encouraged by seeing those young children,” said villager Biba Rani. “They give us motivation to fight.”
People had barely recovered from the devastation of last year’s Cyclone Sidr when Cyclone Aila struck, affecting more than 4 million people.
In the remote coastal village of Hoglapasha, an old timber house with a palm leaf roof belonging to 80-year-old Nirod Chandra Roy was reduced to debris. Mr. Roy built a makeshift shelter with the bits and pieces of his old home that he found lying around. He survived in this shelter, without food or water, until relief workers finally were able to reach him.
“We were under chest-deep water for at least three days and hardly had any dry place for shelter. With surging tides and gusts, Aila swept away almost everything,” Mr. Roy said, visibly shaken.
Young volunteers help families
Now, a UNICEF-supported programme called ‘Empowerment of Adolescents’ is giving cyclone-affected villagers hope and disseminating life-saving information during a difficult time. Through the programme, young people have been trained on how to help minimize the damage to life and property – as well as give moral support to community members – in pre- and post-disaster situations.
The volunteers work in conjuction with the Department of Public Health Engineering to reach out to cyclone-affected families. They teach villagers how to make sure their water is safe to drink and how to prepare oral saline solutions for treating dehydration.
The programme is funded by the European Union and implemented by UNICEF in collaboration with a non-governmental organization, the Centre for Mass Education and Science. Since May, the centre has been training adolescents in disaster-prone communities to help their own families, as well as the families of their neighbours, during emergencies.
‘They give us motivation to fight’
Young volunteers visited Mr. Roy in his shelter, bringing him UNICEF-supplied water purification tablets and jerry cans. They also provided support and hope for the future. “It is hard for families who’ve lost almost everything to survive and make a normal living,” said one of the volunteers in Hoglapasha village, Monoj Mojumdar.
After leaving Mr. Roy's shelter, the volunteers visited a fisherman’s family. They explained how several folds of used cotton cloth can help filter contaminated pond water before boiling.
The volunteers regularly visit about 50 families to make sure they are drinking safe water and maintaining proper hygiene and sanitation practices. “We are encouraged by seeing those young children,” said villager Biba Rani. “They give us motivation to fight.”
The exhibition was inaugurated by Dr. Kamal Abdul Naser Chowdhury
The exhibition was inaugurated by Dr. Kamal Abdul Naser Chowdhury
The exhibition was inaugurated by Dr. Kamal Abdul Naser Chowdhury, Secretary, Ministry of Information, Government of Bangladesh.
Other special guests included Dr Stefan Frowein, Ambassador and Head of Delegation, Delegation of the European Commission to Bangladesh; Mr Carel De Rooy, Bangladesh Country Representative, UNICEF; and Dr Shahidul Alam, Principal, Pathshala – South Asian Institute of Photography.
A photo book entitled Do you see my world? was also launched at this event.
After the launch in Dhaka the exhibition is schedule to travel to the three districts where the adolescent photographers came from. Please join us in this photographic journey at one of the exhibition sites.
The launch also treamed live from http://www.drik.tv/doyouseemyworld/ and had mobile versions on rickshaw van and bullock cart.
Exhibition details:
Dhaka: Drik Gallery, Dhanmondi, 23-27 November, 3-8pm everyday
Jamalpur: Public library, Bakultola, 6-11 December, 10am-4pm everyday
The exhibition was inaugurated by Dr. Kamal Abdul Naser Chowdhury, Secretary, Ministry of Information, Government of Bangladesh.
Other special guests included Dr Stefan Frowein, Ambassador and Head of Delegation, Delegation of the European Commission to Bangladesh; Mr Carel De Rooy, Bangladesh Country Representative, UNICEF; and Dr Shahidul Alam, Principal, Pathshala – South Asian Institute of Photography.
A photo book entitled Do you see my world? was also launched at this event.
After the launch in Dhaka the exhibition is schedule to travel to the three districts where the adolescent photographers came from. Please join us in this photographic journey at one of the exhibition sites.
The launch also treamed live from http://www.drik.tv/doyouseemyworld/ and had mobile versions on rickshaw van and bullock cart.
Exhibition details:
Dhaka: Drik Gallery, Dhanmondi, 23-27 November, 3-8pm everyday
Jamalpur: Public library, Bakultola, 6-11 December, 10am-4pm everyday
The exhibition was inaugurated by Dr. Kamal Abdul Naser Chowdhury
The exhibition was inaugurated by Dr. Kamal Abdul Naser Chowdhury, Secretary, Ministry of Information, Government of Bangladesh.
Other special guests included Dr Stefan Frowein, Ambassador and Head of Delegation, Delegation of the European Commission to Bangladesh; Mr Carel De Rooy, Bangladesh Country Representative, UNICEF; and Dr Shahidul Alam, Principal, Pathshala – South Asian Institute of Photography.
A photo book entitled Do you see my world? was also launched at this event.
After the launch in Dhaka the exhibition is schedule to travel to the three districts where the adolescent photographers came from. Please join us in this photographic journey at one of the exhibition sites.
The launch also treamed live from http://www.drik.tv/doyouseemyworld/ and had mobile versions on rickshaw van and bullock cart.
Exhibition details:
Dhaka: Drik Gallery, Dhanmondi, 23-27 November, 3-8pm everyday
Jamalpur: Public library, Bakultola, 6-11 December, 10am-4pm everyday
Other special guests included Dr Stefan Frowein, Ambassador and Head of Delegation, Delegation of the European Commission to Bangladesh; Mr Carel De Rooy, Bangladesh Country Representative, UNICEF; and Dr Shahidul Alam, Principal, Pathshala – South Asian Institute of Photography.
A photo book entitled Do you see my world? was also launched at this event.
After the launch in Dhaka the exhibition is schedule to travel to the three districts where the adolescent photographers came from. Please join us in this photographic journey at one of the exhibition sites.
The launch also treamed live from http://www.drik.tv/doyouseemyworld/ and had mobile versions on rickshaw van and bullock cart.
Exhibition details:
Dhaka: Drik Gallery, Dhanmondi, 23-27 November, 3-8pm everyday
Jamalpur: Public library, Bakultola, 6-11 December, 10am-4pm everyday
Do you see my world? Rural life of Bangladesh through adolescent eyes.
Do you see my world? Rural life of Bangladesh through adolescent eyes.
Rural life of Bangladesh through adolescent eyes
Dhaka, 18 November, 2009. To celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Convention on the Rights of the Child, UNICEF in partnership with the European Union delegation in Bangladesh and Pathshala, South Asian Institute of Photography, launched a photo exhibition on Sunday, the 22nd November in Dhaka. Under the title 'Do you see my world?', this exhibition
is showcasing the works of three groups of adolescents from Jamalpur, Chapainawabganj and Barguna districts of rural Bangladesh.
With UNICEF support, Pathshala gave a five-day photographic training to 30 young people, aged 14 to18, and gave them a digital camera for a week. The aim was to inspire these adolescents to tell their own stories using photography as a tool, and to make a new mode of expression available to them. The result was a striking collection of photographs that express the beauty and tragedy of these adolescents’ everyday lives.
Rural life of Bangladesh through adolescent eyes
Dhaka, 18 November, 2009. To celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Convention on the Rights of the Child, UNICEF in partnership with the European Union delegation in Bangladesh and Pathshala, South Asian Institute of Photography, launched a photo exhibition on Sunday, the 22nd November in Dhaka. Under the title 'Do you see my world?', this exhibition
is showcasing the works of three groups of adolescents from Jamalpur, Chapainawabganj and Barguna districts of rural Bangladesh.
With UNICEF support, Pathshala gave a five-day photographic training to 30 young people, aged 14 to18, and gave them a digital camera for a week. The aim was to inspire these adolescents to tell their own stories using photography as a tool, and to make a new mode of expression available to them. The result was a striking collection of photographs that express the beauty and tragedy of these adolescents’ everyday lives.
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