CHILD PROTECTION

• UNICEF is working closely with the Government of Bangladesh to realise its commitment for universal birth registration by 2010.   This, with other initiatives, will help the situation for women and children in Bangladesh, where birth registration stands at 10 per cent for children below five. Emphasis is now on linking birth registration with education, health and social work systems. UNICEF also works to raise awareness about the new Birth Registration Law that links birth certificates with other services, such as obtaining a drivers license or passport.

• Adolescents, their families and communities are supported in adopting practices to reduce child marriage, dowry and other forms of abuse, exploitation and violence against girls in selected districts. By 2010, the Empowerment of  Adolescents project will have supported 1 million adolescents to access peer education for life skills, including HIV/AIDS awareness.  To  date, some 130,000 adolescent girls and their parents and other community leaders have taken part in the project. Research on adolescents' related issues, including the prevalence of suicide amongst adolescents - which stands at about six teens taking their own lives every day - is also being conducted.

• Ensures all programmes for children in institutions are child friendly and gender appropriate.  UNICEF also supports the reintegration of trafficked children into family and society, for example children formerly involved in camel racing.

• UNICEF Bangladesh is working for more effective child rights based policies, legislative and enforcement systems to ensure a protective environment for every child. In particular, UNICEF is working to improve the juvenile justice system.  In Bangladesh juveniles are still jailed alongside adults. The criminal age of responsibility was recently raised from 7 to 9-years-old.

• UNICEF seeks to improve and expand the education, protection, health and development opportunities for children living on the streets. In 2008 and 2009, 5000 children will benefit from projects in 16 drop-incentres and 60 open schools.