By Maksuda Lisa Dhaka Bureau)
In a major milestone toward building a non-violent and secure future for children across South Asia, Bangladesh has announced a suite of groundbreaking and ambitious national commitments to end all forms of violence, exploitation, and discrimination against children. The pledges were made at the high-level South Asian Ministerial Conference held in Colombo, Sri Lanka, marking a significant step forward in safeguarding the rights of vulnerable children in the region.
The ministerial conference, jointly organized by SAARC, UNICEF, and the World Health Organization (WHO), took place on June 23-24, 2026. The event brought together policymakers and child rights advocates from across South Asia, all echoing a shared urgency to cultivate a more humane world for children.
A Blueprint for a Violence-Free Future
The Bangladesh delegation was led by State Minister of Social Welfare, Farzana Sharmin, MP. Delivering Bangladesh’s national statement, she emphasized that protecting the most vulnerable segment of society- its children- is not an act of charity, but the very foundation of human rights. She reaffirmed that under the leadership of Honorable Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, the Government of Bangladesh is policy-bound to ensure that every child grows up safe, protected, respected, and empowered.
The State Minister highlighted Bangladesh’s recent progress in strengthening legislative frameworks and expanding social safety nets. Looking ahead, she announced new national pledges focused on three core areas:
1. Strengthening Child Protection Systems:** Enhancing institutional and accountable legal frameworks down to the grassroots level.
2. Ensuring Digital Safety: Creating a secure environment for children in cyberspace and preventing technology-facilitated violence.
3. Expanding Emergency Response Services: Scaling up rapid psychological, legal, and social rehabilitation services for child victims of violence.
‘Child protection systems must be proactive, inclusive, and accessible to every child, regardless of social, economic, or geographic circumstances. We are shifting from being merely responsive to establishing a robust preventative system,’ Bangladesh Delegation.
Full Alignment with Global Roadmaps
Aligning with Pressenza’s core values of human-centric journalism, Bangladesh formally endorsed the ‘Bogotá Call to Action to End Violence Against Children’ and the ‘Child Protection System Strengthening Framework.’ This endorsement underscores the country’s commitment to dismantling institutional and structural violence against minors.
South Asian Ministerial Conference 2026: Key Participants:
Chief Guest: Dr. Harini Amarasuriya (PM, Sri Lanka).
Bangladesh Lead: Farzana Sharmin, MP (State Minister).
Participating Nations: Bangladesh, Bhutan, Maldives, Pakistan & Sri Lanka.
International: SAARC Sec-Gen & UN Special Rep (VAC).
Emerging Challenges and Preventive Actions
Yasmeen Parveen, NDC, Secretary of the Ministry of Women and Children Affairs, elaborately presented Bangladesh’s strategic national position. She noted visible successes in modernizing birth registration and reducing the prevalence of violent discipline in domestic and institutional settings.
However, she candidly addressed modern anxieties, highlighting the rise of ‘technology-facilitated violence against children’- such as cyberbullying and online grooming- as critical emerging challenges. Secretary Parveen outlined the present government’s multi-dimensional strategies to accelerate the eradication of long-standing social evils like child labor and child marriage. This realistic self-assessment and practical roadmap received high appreciation from the participating SAARC member states and UN representatives.
A Call for Regional Solidarity
The conference was also attended by Mahfuza Sultana, Director at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. In its closing remarks, the Bangladeshi delegation reiterated that violence against children is not an isolated national issue, but a global crisis. To dispel this shadow, Bangladesh stated it stands fully prepared to work shoulder-to-shoulder with regional and international partners.
If implemented effectively on the ground, Bangladesh’s commitments at the Colombo conference will not only safeguard its own children but also script a new chapter for non-violence and human rights across South Asia.
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The Writer:
Maksuda Lisa: Staff Correspondent, Pressenza- Dhaka Bureau.
