Children, who comprise more than one-third of Bangladesh’s population, rarely dream to be a politician because of corruption and widespread violence that go with it.
A Unicef poll reveals that 74 percent of city children and 65 percent in rural areas are averse to joining politics in future.
Interestingly, among those who wanted to join, almost 11 percent said they felt inclined in order to become rich, and 26 percent said they would opt for it to have power.
Girls in cities have been found to be more disenchanted than those in rural areas.
As a reason for their dislike, 84 percent of them cited the association of politics with “corruption and violence”.
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Their feelings have become harder with shutdowns confining them at home. They feel ‘insecure’ to go out. Seventy one percent of them complained that shutdowns disrupt their schooling.
At least three out of five children feel that politicians ignore their rights because they carry no vote being under-18.
The UN agency says more than 90 percent children are aware of their rights.
Unicef conducted the poll – “Children’s Opinion Poll 2013: Children’s Views and Expectations from Political Aspirants and Leaders” – ahead of the general elections over which politics in Bangladesh is witnessing an eruption of violence.
At least 4,200 children randomly selected and equally divided into cities and rural areas took part in the “self-administered” questionnaires between July and Aug of this politically turbulent year.
At least 333 children completed a month-long online survey.
Unicef Representative in Bangladesh Pascal Villeneuve in a media release said children’s voices were often “never heard or neglected”, despite the fact that they constitute nearly 40 percent of the total population.
He said the Poll was conducted “to bring the voices of children to the forefront and to encourage the inclusion of a ‘Children’s Contract’ or children’s agenda in election manifestos”.
He believed the poll results would promote the formation and implementation of child-sensitive policies in Bangladesh.
When pointed to the recent political situation, Unicef spokesperson Arifa S Sharmin told bdnews24.com that the poll had “nothing to do with casting politics in a bad light”.
She explained that the survey was self-administered on fully literate children, “aware and conscious” of their surroundings long before national politics had turned violent.
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“The survey was conducted so as to provide us with a solid basis for advocating children’s issue.”
She said far from demonising politics, the survey was done only to make politics more children-oriented.
She referred to party manifestos from the last election and said barring two large parties, others ‘more or less ignored’ the children’s issue.
“However, if anyone wants to interpret the survey findings in a different way, it is their problem. It would completely defeat the children’s cause though”.
The poll also revealed different aspects of discrimination against children that include “rights to food, education, health, work, and freedom of opinion”.
These discriminations they said were generally practised at home by siblings, spouses, and parents.
A majority of them said they were not getting “adequate” healthcare while 84 percent said their parents could not afford treatment.
They expect that political leaders would ensure free healthcare services for all children and play an active role in ensuring their quality education.
They also seek stopping corporal punishment and for this 81 percent of them pitched for teacher’s accountability.
They also feel being “discriminated” against by older children.
Bangladesh has ratified the UN Convention on the Rights of Child that with many other provisions suggest active participation of children at different decision-making levels that relate them.
Source: Bd news24
