Article 24 Children's rights 41. Despite the fact that Bangladesh has ratified the Convention on the Rights of Child, 1989 and adopted the Children Act, 2013. The Children Act 2013 was specifically adopted by abolishing the Children Act 1974 to implement the Convention on the Rights of Child, 1989.37 This Act aims at ensuring protection, care and establishment of rights for the children. In the new law, the issues of overall wellbeing and protection of the children have been considered. The Act makes provisions for realizing the objectives of non-stigmatization of children, maintenance of privacy, reintegration of children in the society as responsible citizens, state protection for neglected, abused and other children in difficult circumstances. The Act prescribes for separate trial of the juvenile offenders. The Act fixes 18 years as the age of child in line with the definition of the Convention.38 The Act especially says that such court should be child friendly and child’s right to participate in judicial proceeding should be treated as child’s right. The child court should ensure best interest of the children in every step of judicial proceedings.39 42. The Government has adopted the National Elimination of Child Labour Policy in 2010. It should be implemented properly to eliminate child labour. Corporal punishment at educational institutions is rampant in Bangladesh. Corporal punishment is a major reason for dropping out of children from school that insist children to labour market. In January 2011, the High Court declared corporal punishment of children in all educational institutions illegal. Following the judgment in April 2011, the Ministry of Education issued ‘Guidelines to Prohibit Corporal and Psychological Punishment in All Educational Institutions- 2011’. The National Children Policy 2011 also prohibits all forms of punishment of children at educational institutions. 43. Despite the adoption of the Children Act, 2013, child abuse, killing, child labour, abduction and trafficking continue unabated. The concerned authorities responsible for protection of children are not aware of the Act. In recent times, many children have been brutally killed in workplaces and other places by their employers and neighbours. Many children are still involved in worst form of labour such as hazardous work, hotel, factories, hotel and restaurant etc. The juvenile justice system is not well developed and rehabilitation centres lack necessary facilities and human resources. 44. The NHRC has made important initiative for protection of the rights of children. It has formed committee on child rights, child labour and trafficking in order to organise awareness programme for elimination of child labour, especially bonded labour in fish firm in southern part of Bangladesh, held consultation to review the Child Marriage Restraint Act, 1929 to measure its compliance with international human rights standards. It has also organised meetings and workshops on combating child marriage, trafficking of children and eradication of child labour in particular, child domestic workers and submitted recommendations on reforming laws on child marriage, trafficking and child labour. The NHRC believes that the effective implementation of the existing laws and policies will contribute to a large extent in protection and promotion of the rights of child. The NHRC finds that the Children Act, 2013 has protection measures for the 37 The Child Act, 2013 (Act No. 24 of 2013). See section 6 & 7 of the Act. 39 Section 22 of the Act 38 21