SoL colloquium discusses children’s rights protection in workshop
On October 12th, BRAC University School of Law (SoL), in collaboration with the Ministry of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs (MoLJPA) and UNICEF Bangladesh, hosted a seminar on the Children Act, 2013, examining gaps in child-protection legislation and challenges in putting children’s rights into practice. The event was graced by prominent personalities such as Dr Saira Rahman Khan (Professor, SoL), Shabnaaz Zahereen (Child Protection Specialist, UNICEF), Saidul Islam (Programme Officer, Justice for Children), Md. Mostafa Hosain (Assistant Professor, SoL), S.M. Arshadul Alam (Additional Secretary and Project Director, SARC Project) and other students and faculty members.
The seminar explored national legislation, international standards, and juvenile justice. Assistant Professor Hosain discussed children’s rights within the framework of international instruments such as the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC), explaining its guiding principles: non-discrimination; the best interests of the child; survival and development; and children’s participation.
Dr Saira Rahman Khan (Professor, SoL) highlighted social situations resulting in leading children into conflict with the law and highlighted the need for reform and rehabilitation. “Children don’t wake up one morning and say I want to steal, I want to hurt or I want to join accomplices”, she remarked.
Following sessions addressed concerns within Bangladesh’s legal framework, including gaps in child maintenance, the role of children’s court and the need to adapt laws as society changes. Speakers discussed treating children who encounter the justice system with dignity while ensuring protection, education, and rehabilitation rather than focusing on punishment.
Students worked through case studies, tested their knowledge of international conventions, and asked about legal protection’s work in real life. The discussions encouraged the shift from paper to institutions, training, and accountability required for effective implementation.
The seminar connected legal principles to real world problems, observing that it is the legal system’s responsibility to protect the rights of every child, both legally and practically.
