A workshop titled “Children’s Legal Rights: Experience Sharing and Next Steps” was held in Cox’s Bazar in light of the Children Act 2013 on Thursday.
Organized by Save the Children at a local hotel, the workshop brought together representatives from government and non-government organizations working in child protection and justice sectors. The event facilitated fruitful discussions on challenges, experiences, and future actions to ensure justice for children.
The District and Sessions Judge of Cox’s Bazar, Md. Abdul Majid, attended the workshop as the chief guest and session facilitator. Also present were the Additional District and Sessions Judge of the Women and Children Repression Prevention Tribunal, Joint District and Sessions Judges, Senior Assistant Judges, and Assistant Judges. Additionally, Child Affairs Officers from Bangladesh Police and Probation Officers from the Department of Social Services participated, reflecting the importance of multi-sectoral collaboration.
Speaking at the workshop, Md. Abdul Majid, District and Sessions Judge of Cox’s Bazar, said, “The Children Act 2013 provides a strong foundation for ensuring justice for children. However, it will only be effective if it is sincerely implemented at the grassroots level.” He further added, “Having a law alone is not enough—the key lies in its proper implementation. Our attitude towards children must be caring and compassionate. The law should open new doors of opportunity for them, and that should be our ultimate goal.”
During the workshop, participants shared their real-life experiences in handling child-related cases. They discussed delays in trial processes, gaps in coordination between agencies, the need to enhance capacity regarding child sensitivity, and the importance of aligning work with national policies.
At this time, Save the Children reiterated its commitment to partnering with the government and judiciary to build a more effective, coordinated, and child-friendly justice system.
Firoz Mostafa, Senior Manager for Child Protection at Save the Children, stated, “To ensure justice for children, we need an effective, rights-based approach. Only through mutual cooperation and continuous dialogue with policymakers can we achieve the desired changes.”
