By: PramodKumar
UNICEF Bangladesh has said that the number of children detained has increased since public court proceedings were postponed in March amid COVID-19 outbreak.
“Their number is now almost twice the capacity of the juvenile detention centres,” the UN agency said in a statement, adding that more than 1,000 children awaiting trial or sentenced for petty crimes are currently held in three juvenile centres.
With limited staff and logistical support, and with inadequate water supply, sanitation and hygiene facilities, it is exceptionally difficult for children and staff at the centres to practice physical distancing or to self-isolate to minimise the risk of Covid-19 infection, Unicef said.
Recently, a group of seven children were released on through the newly set up virtual children’s court. Several hundred children can be released in the next two weeks, Unicef said.
Tomoo Hozumi, Unicef representative in Bangladesh, said, “I wholeheartedly commend the decision to introduce virtual children’s courts and very much welcome the release of children from detention.”
“The well-being and protection of children must be at the centre of our response to Covid-19. By acting with a sense of urgency on all fronts, we can prevent the pandemic from transforming into a lasting crisis for children.”
The first-ever virtual children’s court in Bangladesh began operating on Tuesday 12 May after President Abdul Hamid issued the ordinance to introduce virtual courts on May 9.
The Supreme Court established the virtual children’s courts with support from Unicef as a response to the disruption of regular court proceedings due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
The UN agency also provides technical support to the Department of Social Services and the juvenile centres to manage the court procedures.
Unicef said it is working with the department of social services to help reunite the released children with their families by communicating with families and accompanying the children on their journey home.
