AS our country enters an important phase of national di-f\ alogue on the vital issues that wiH shape the / Y Bangladesh of the twenty-first century, we find it our call the attention of our people, and that of the various political parties and leaders, to the pressing issues of women and children, and to formulate clear commitments to our national goals in measurable and accountable terms

We recall that our Constitution asks for taking special measures to address the needs Of women and children (Part 3. Article 28 4) and that Bangladesh has been striving to accelerate the progress of women and children's development. through a National Plan of Action to achieve the goals set try the World Summit for Children for the year 2000

The recent National Immunization Day. of 16 April, has generated welcome support from most sections of our society Including political parties. Now further action is needed to build on this momentum towards anchoring in the nation's conscience the primacy of human development concerns, particularly those related to women and children.

Such action would address the special nqeds of women and children, constituting the great majority of our people, seeing to mobilize through them the potential for advancement and bringing it to the centre of our existence as a viable nation. This wifi also serve to release powerful formative forces to shape the Bangladesh of tomorrow By taking thia Initiative, we will be seizing a historical opportunity to narrow the gap between the people of Bangladesh and other rapidly transforming nations Tnese reasons compel us to apeak up.

But, even more important, the question we raise today is a matter of rights the right of our own children to receive the very best possible from us. not only as individuals or families, but also as a society and the right of women to contribute and benefit on an equal footing, to and from the process of development. Our obligation is all the more imperative when we consider that children do not have the means to defend, let alone promote, their rights Thus our action Is at the very heart of the democratic process and the essence of social lustice It Is also In Une with our Constitution's emphasis on basic human rights and the respect of human dignity and values (Part 2. Article 1 1),

The international consensus on child rights la embodied in the United Nations Convention on the Right* of the Child two which Bangladesh is one of the first signatories. It is vital that out political parties commit themselves to the energetic fulfillment of the promise given to the children In this convention.

Taking the above Into consideration, we call upon our political parties and leaders:

111 To,pledge themselves to keep child rights on a common national agenda, thus avoiding possible negative effects on children’s Interests caused by controversies or conflicts. (Tiildren must remain above party poUtics

(2) To rededicate our political system to giving "Flrat Call to Children" by providing the maximum possible allocations from national resources as well as cooperating with development partners to optimize their support towards the same end.

(3) To dedicate all necessary efforts to the elimination of disparities and discrimination that affect the girl child and women,

(4) To specify their commitments to women and children, with reference to achieving the goals for the year 2000. namely.

* Reducing infant and under-five child mortality to 50 and 70 per 1000 live births, respectively.

• Reducing the maternal mortality ratio to 300 per 100.000 live births.

•Reducing severe and moderate malnutrition among under-fives by half, compared to 1990 levels.

• Providing universal access to sanitation.

• Universal access to primary education and completion of primary education by at least 90% of primary school-age children.

• Reducing adult illiteracy rate by at least half its 1990 level, with emphasis on female Hteracy.

• Providing improved protection for children in especially difficult circumstances, such as working, street and other disadvantaged children.

(5) To include In the Code of Conduct for Elections a reference to ensuring that services for women and children are not disrupted by political action.

While the children of Bangladesh, the voters of tomorrow, have a legitimate right and hope that these minimal and achievable goals will be incorporated into the national agenda, and expressed in party manifestoes and declarations, it is important that the people remain vigilant as to their implementation. This would be in line with our Constitution's emphasis on basic human rights and the respect of human dignity and values (Part 2. Article 11),

All sectors of civil society, including the media, have a role to play in making this appeal come into reality.

Bangladesh Shlshu Adhikar Forum

Khan Foundation

Association for Realization

Human Rights First the Child

Moltree Partshad

Ain O Salish Kendra

Village Development Center 1

Assistance for Slum Dwellers

Bangladesh Jatiyo Mohila Ain-Jibi Samity

Gono Shajjaya Sangstha

Plan International-Bangladesh

Center for Rural Child Development

Red Barnet

Social and Economic Enhancement Program (SEEP)

Human Rights Development Project-Satkhira (HRDP) Voluntary Health Services Society (VHSS) Development Feature

Manobik Sahaf ya Sangstha (MSS)

Bangladesh Inter-religious Council for Peace and Justice Save the Children Fund

Save the Children (USA)

Desh Unnayan Samqf Bangladesh (DUS-Bangladesh) Forum for Cultural arid Human Development (FCHD) Human Rights Journalist Forum of Bangladesh (HRJFB) Society for Underprivileged Families (SUF)

ShtshuKallayn Trust (SKT)

Under Privileged Children's Education Program (UCEP) Dhaka Ahsania Mission (DAM)

Nari Moltree

Center for Training and Rehabilitation for Destitute Women

Enfants du monde (EDM)

Bangladesh Council for Child Welfare (BCCW)

Bangladesh Shtshu Prottpalan O Punarbasan Kendra

Center for Alternative Information and Analysis Sbalambi Unnayan Samity (SUS)

Shoishab Bangladesh

Radda Bamen

SHAKTI-Foundation

PHULKI

Human Rights Association for Children VERC

Integrated Village Development Center (IVDC)

Jagoroni Chakra

Center for Development Communication (CDC) Daridra Nabaran Kendra (DNK) '

Save the Children Fund (Australia)

Center for Media Research (CMR) Terre des hommes (Swls)-Tdh(s) Society for Social Service (SSS) Bangladesh Organization for Development Cooperation (BODC)

Chinnamul Shlshu Kishore Sangstha (CSKS)

Unnayan Shoho/ogi Team (US)