The Role of the Judiciary in Protecting Child Rights in Bangladesh

Abstract

Children are the future of the nation. The nation has an important responsibility to protect children's rights and build a healthy future generation by protecting them through proper care, support and upbringing. As the director of a nation, the state also has a responsibility to protect children's rights. Among the three main parts of the state, the judiciary plays an important role in the trial of child abuse, children in conflict with the law and child-related crimes. Several legal and institutional structures are integrally involved in the protection of child rights. The activities of these laws and institutions have been highlighted and their role in the judicial process of the judiciary has been presented. This study has highlighted the extent to which the existing courts of Bangladesh are conducting the trial of child abuse, child victims of crime and child-related crimes fairly. Moreover, it has highlighted the limitations of the courts in the fair trial of child-related crimes in some areas and the reasons for which quick and transparent investigation and trial are being hindered. The tendency to corrupt children through sexual harassment and illicit sex in childhood is the most serious. This study also discusses the role of the Child Violence Prevention Tribunal established by the government in providing justice to child victims of sexual violence. In addition, the trend of employing children in impossible and risky work is increasing. Risky activities with children should be stopped. There is a need to take necessary steps to protect these children from abuse and crime through the judicial process of the judiciary in the rehabilitation of child victims of child abuse and crime. Finally, due to some limitations, the judicial courts are not able to complete child-related trials vi successfully and several recommendations have been made to overcome these limitations.