Child rights groups alarmed by rise in child abuse cases

The rising number of child rape and sexual abuse cases is a national crisis and has to be addressed through a multi-sectoral response mechanism, the organisations said.

Behind every number is a child whose life has been irreparably harmed, and a family struggling with trauma, stigma, and the pursuit of justice.

The fact that many incidents remain unreported or unresolved further reflects systemic failures in protecting children, the organisations said.

Shaheen Anam, Executive Director of Manusher Jonno Foundation; Suman Sengupta, Country Director of Save the Children in Bangladesh; and Kabita Bose, Country Director of Plan International Bangladesh said the future of Bangladesh depends on the safety and well-being of its children.

The trauma of an unsafe environment hinders children’s holistic development and leaves a lasting impact on children, they added.

"Protecting them from violence is not optional, it is our moral, legal, and national duty," they mentioned.

Based on the recent report released by Ain o Salish Kendra (ASK), incidents of child rape have increased by nearly 75 percent in the first seven months of 2025 compared to the same period last year.

From January to July 2025, 306 girls were raped, up from 175 cases during the same months of 2024, according to ASK.

Shockingly, 49 of these children are aged between 0 and 6, while the rest are from 7 to 17.

Moreover, cases were not filed in 152 instances, leaving them out of the justice system and many incidents remain unreported.

Mahila Parishad has also reported that 60% of all rape cases are below the age of 18.

Even boys fall prey to sexual abuse as ASK reported rape of 30 boys during this period but it is feared that the number is much higher but is rarely reported.

These numbers highlight a deeply alarming trend and underscore the vulnerability of children within families and outside.

Call for Urgent Action

In light of these findings, the above child rights organizations urged the government to ensure strict enforcement of laws meant to protect children.

The following recommendations are proposed:

1 Strengthening Law Enforcement and Accountability

▪ Ensure all cases of child rape and sexual abuse are promptly and thoroughly investigated and perpetrators brought to justice without delay.
▪ Establish strict monitoring mechanisms to track progress of cases.
▪ Expand the recruitment of child protection social workers and strengthen services such as Child Helpline -1098 and Child Protection Units (CPU).
▪ Implementation of the amendments of completing the investigation of rape cases within 15 days and the trial in 90 days.
▪ Strengthen the monitoring system to supervise the national, district and upazila level child welfare board’s function.

2. Child-Sensitive Justice System

▪ Create child-friendly courts and legal procedures to reduce trauma for child survivors.
▪ Provide legal aid and comprehensive psychosocial support to affected children and their families.

3. Prevention and Protection in Communities

▪ Launch nationwide awareness campaigns to challenge social stigma, promote child rights, and encourage timely reporting of incidents.
▪ Strengthen community-based child protection committees for early detection of possible risk, response, and intervention.

4. Safe Learning Environments

▪ Enforce zero tolerance for harassment in all types of institutes including schools and madrasas schools.
▪ Establish confidential reporting systems and strict disciplinary measures against abusive teachers or staff engaged in abuse.

5. National Child Protection Strategy

▪ Formulate and implement a comprehensive strategy that integrates law enforcement, education, healthcare, and social services to ensure children’s safety and dignity.

6.  Promoting Helpline Awareness and Use

▪ Enhance public awareness and confidence in national helplines like 999 and 1098 as a primary resource for immediate reporting of child abuse and for seeking timely assistance.

7. Responsive Media Role

▪ Promote responsible media reporting on rape incidents to prevent social stigmatization of victims.
▪ Highlight news of trials and convictions to emphasize accountability and justice for abusers, reports UNB.