‘NGO services must to prevent violence against women and children’

Civil Society members called for the inclusion of NGOs in the government’s service structure for preventing violence against women and children, including human trafficking.

“If the NGOs are included, they can jointly take part in the activities aimed at protecting the rights of women and children along with the government”, said Advocate Rafiqual Islam Khan, manager (legal and policy support) of INCIDIN Bangladesh.

While presenting the keynote paper at a meeting, he said Women Department is now running a toll-free national helpline, 109, 1098 by Social Service department, and National Legal Aid running another helpline, 16430, to provide services to oppressed women and children.

It would bring a better result if the NGOs, which have vast experience in the sector, can be engaged in the services across the country, he said, stressing on the integrated approach for protecting the rights of the country’s vast number of people.

INCIDIN Bangladesh, on behalf of Prevention of Child Trafficking through Strengthening Community and Networking (PCTSCN) Consortium, organized the views exchange meeting at CIRDAP auditorium in the capital today (October 16).

Dr. Abul Hossain, deputy secretary of Women and Children Affairs Ministry, attended it as the chief guest.

Chaired by AKM Masud Ali, executive director of INCIDIN Bangladesh, Alamgir Hossain, senior assistant judge and district Legal Aid Officer, Prof. Dr. Kamal Uddin of Psychology department of Dhaka University, Dr. Akhil Poddar, Head of Input, Ekushey Television, among others, spoke at the proggramme.