Violent disciplining, sexual abuse, child labour, child marriage and psychological punishment remain widespread in Bangladesh, putting millions of children at risk of harm every day.
Nine in ten children – accounting for 45 million boys and girls – below the age of 14 are subjected to violent disciplining in their homes regularly. More than half of girls, 51 per cent, are married before reaching their eighteenth birthday. Millions of children are living on the street, are out of school or trapped in hazardous child labour. To identify these children and to protect them from harm and abuse, a well-planned, trained and supported social service workforce is critical.