The "Rangpur Divisional Level Multimedia Campaign to Prevent Child Marriage and Violence" was inaugurated on Monday aiming at preventing violence against children and child marriage in the division.
The Department of Women Affairs (DWA) in collaboration with UNICEF launched the campaign to strengthen child protection under the 'Accelerating Protection for Children (APC)' project led by the Ministry of Women and Child Affairs.
Acting Commissioner of Rangpur Division Md. Azmal Hossain inaugurated the campaign in a function held at his conference room as the chief guest.
Deputy Director of the DWA for Rangpur Seloara Begum delivered a welcome speech on the "Multimedia Campaign" and highlighted various aspects.
The basic objective of the multimedia campaign at the departmental level was presented by Monjur Ahmed, Social and Behaviour Change Officer of UNICEF and Apurbo Karmakar, UNICEF Multimedia Consultant.
Rangpur Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Rabiul Foysal presided over the event.
Additional Divisional Commissioner (General) Md Asaduzzaman, Superintendent of Police Muhammad Alamgir Hossain and Rangpur Betar Regional Director Md Abdur Rahim spoke as special guests.
Through the campaign, an effective system of child protection will be created at the national and grassroots levels for increasing institutional capacity and behavioural change to prevent violence against children and child marriage in Bangladesh.
Based on the data received, the campaign will be coordinated to accelerate behavioural change and build a strong social movement in this regard by spreading awareness messages to prevent child marriage and violence against children.
The chief guest emphasized on stopping incidents like organized physical and mental abuse of children, various forms of violence, child labour, sexual harassment and child marriage through united social movements.
The Deputy Commissioner called for giving priority to campaign involving the community in remote areas and those districts where the rate of violence against children and child marriage is high.
The Additional Divisional Commissioner stressed the need for increasing awareness about the positive behaviour of parents towards children as well as taking concerted steps to eliminate harmful social norms.
UNICEF's Child Protection Officer Jesmin Hossain urged the parents to change negative attitudes toward family and social levels to prevent child violence and at the same time educate and empower the girl child.
Seloara Begum said the role of government-private organizations, civil society, educational institutions and media, social, religious and political leadership and even children is undeniable in building a non-discriminatory system for the children.
The speakers said the multimedia campaign will be strengthened at the local level in the eight districts of Rangpur division through various public and private organizations, youth networks, local stakeholders and social media.
