As a part of Child Rights week 2021, various initiatives had been taken at LRP level to ensure child participation. Along with the theme of Child Rights Week 2021, this time, we tried to highlight the theme ‘Climate Justice’ to incorporate the demand and desire of our children from the local to national level as well as international level at the 2021 United Nations Climate Change Conference, also known as COP26.

Along with that, a huge number of girls are at risk of child marriage. Though there is significant progress in recent years, still Bangladesh has the fourth highest prevalence of child marriage especially due to the COVID-19 pandemic situation, millions of girls are facing difficulties. School closures, isolation from friends and support networks, and rising poverty places girls at risk of child marriage.

With a plan to unite our children’s view on climate justice and child marriage, drawing competition and discussion sessions had been arranged at LRP 42 (Keshabpur) as a part of celebrating Child Rights Week 2021. 70 children participated in these events.

One of the participants, a 12-year-old child Juboraz said, “I celebrated child rights week like other times. This time, I was so happy to join the events as I could enjoy together with my friends after so long due to the deadly virus. Participating at the discussion session, I have come to know about the causes of climate change and global warming. I have also leant on bad impact of child marriage from the discussion. I will share my learning with others and when I will grow up, I will work to save our children as well as our world.”

“I celebrated child rights week together with my friends. I participated in drawing competition on climate change & got the 3rd prize. I became very happy when my name was announced. Everyone praised me a lot. Thanks to ActionAid Bangladesh for arranging such event for us”, Expressed by Nandini, a 14-year-old girl.