Dhaka, May 23: The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has expressed deep concern over the increasing incidents of violence against children in Bangladesh. This alarming trend includes cases of rape and murder involving both girls and boys.
UNICEF’s representative in Bangladesh, Rana Flowers, stated, “Cruelty against children must be stopped immediately.” She highlighted that the rising reports of sexual and other forms of violence against women and children in 2026 indicate an urgent need to strengthen measures for child protection and the prevention of gender-based violence (GBV).
In her statement, she emphasized the necessity to eradicate the culture of impunity for offenders. This includes addressing shortcomings in reporting, institutional safety, child-friendly policing, and judicial systems, as well as community safety and social services. Additionally, psychological support for victimized women and children is crucial. Accountability must be established in schools, madrasas, workplaces, neighborhoods, and welfare centers.
Flowers remarked, “Violence spreads when communities remain silent.” She urged the public to report incidents of violence, abuse, or exploitation through available protective services like the child helpline 1098.
She also noted that revealing the identities or sharing images and videos of abused women and children causes further trauma. “Those who share or reshare such content exacerbate the pain of victims and their families,” she added.
UNICEF has appealed to the media, social media users, and the general public to respect the privacy and dignity of victims and to refrain from sharing such material. Instead, it is better to advocate for stronger safety systems and accountability for offenders.
Flowers concluded, “Every child has the right to safety everywhere. Whether in the community, school, home, or public spaces, their images should not be used.”
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