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Khaleda urges world to protect children

UNB, New York
Prime Minister Khaleda Zia appealed for the comity of nations to join forces for creating a non-violent, secure environment for children, removing perils like child abuse and exploitation and violence against them.
"Children deserve to be at the very centre of our development agenda and international cooperation. We have to work consistently and continuously in support of our children," she told a special session of the UN General Assembly on children that began on Wednesday.
Seeking commitment and concrete measures at national, regional and international levels, the prime minister called for mobilisation of adequate international resources to promote a sound growth and development of children.
Khaleda also sought cooperation from the civil society backing up government efforts to ensure a secure atmosphere for the children and realise their full potential. (Picture on page 11)
"Let us not forget that millions of children still continue to suffer in different parts of the world, including Bangladesh, due to poverty, malnutrition, disease, conflicts and wars," she told the world leaders at the summit meet.
To overcome the grim situation, the prime minister made a strong plea for eradicating poverty of children and parents in the vulnerable groups as a beginning, and increased investments on health and nutrition of mothers and children.
Khaleda also underscored education of the children, especially of the girls as she said access to quality education is vital for grooming children as worthy adults of the days ahead.
Recounting the commitments made at the World Summit on Children of 1990 on children's survival, development and protection rights, the prime minister made a 'self-searching' query: "are our children better off today than they were ten years ago? If not, we must ask what more needs to be done to improve the condition of our children."
However, Khaleda apprised the world leaders of actions taken by Bangladesh to fulfil its commitment to secure children's rights.
She mentioned the national plan of action for children and the work of the National Council overseeing the programmes related to survival of children, their protection against killer diseases and improvement in the nutritional status of mother and child.
The government has increased budget allocations for primary, secondary and girls' education, primary healthcare and social development, she said.
Expressing satisfaction with the increase in enrollment of children in primary schools, she said steps were taken to give free tuition and scholarships to girls up to higher secondary levels of education. This, she hoped, would have a positive impact on the 'age of marriage and health of women and children.
Khaleda noted that Bangladesh achieved a substantial improvement in immunisation, control of diarrhoeal diseases, vitamin "A" supplementation, iodised salt consumption and nutrition.
Other programmes include a multi-pronged approach to ensure a safe motherhood, halt trafficking in children, reduce child labour, implement programmes for disabled children, projects on birth registration, early childhood development and children having problems with
the law.
Bangladesh, she said, is also a signatory to the SAARC Convention on South Asian Regional Arrangements for Promotion of Child Welfare.
Earlier, Khaleda Zia recalled the September 11 terrorist attacks on New York resulting in the death of thousands of innocents, including many from Bangladesh.
"We shared the pain and sorrow of New York in the aftermath of these attacks," she said and referred to Bangladesh's participation in global efforts to stop recurrence of such tragedies.
The gathering, which ends today (Friday), will review the successes and failures in meeting 27 goals set by the 1990 World Summit for Children, and set new priorities and goals for the next 15 years.
More than 50 leaders, including Khaleda addressed the plenary session Wednesday, focusing on a wide variety of issues. Representatives of more than 60 countries were scheduled to speak on Thursday.
Their speeches and panel discussions thereafter to broach a unanimous stand will be capped with a declaration at the close of the conference.