626 children raped, 60% increase in child marriage in 2020: MJF

Health Desk- 09 Jan 2021: Despite the closure of educational institutions and the absence of public gatherings during the pandemic, 626 children were reportedly raped between January and December 2020, revealed Manusher Jonno Foundation (MJF) at an online press conference on Saturday morning.

The number of child marriages also increased by some 60 percent during this period, it said.

During the period under review, 145 children died as a result of rape, attempted rape, murder, abduction, disappearance and torture. Eight girls were tortured while working as domestic help while three of them died.

The press conference titled 'Bangladesh Child Situation 2020', was moderated by MJF Executive Director Shaheen Anam and she said according to MJF's analysis, children are not safe in their own homes.

Shaheen Anam called upon all the government agencies engaged in child protection to be more responsible as well as to work together for the protection of children's rights.

MJF's Governing Board member Fatema Yusuf; Rafeza Shaheen, Coordinator, Child Protection Division, MJF; various MJF partners, among others, spoke at the event.