Bangladesh launches nationwide helpline for vulnerable children

Bangladesh has launched nationwide coverage of the country's first toll-free "Child Helpline-1098" to provide a free telephone service to children who are facing violence, abuse and exploitation.

The Child Helpline "1098" enables anyone to report child rights violations, child abuse, exploitation or any other act of disruption to the protection of children by calling a toll free number "1098" from any corner of the country, through any mobile phone operator.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina Thursday officially launched the "Child Helpline1098".

"A revolution has taken place in the field of ICT in Bangladesh. Today, another technological milestone has been added by launching the Child Helpline 1098' to promote and protect child rights and give children's interest utmost priority," Sheikh Hasina said during the launch.

"Child Help Line 1098" which has been launched in collaboration with UNICEF aims to provide a means for channeling information from vulnerable children to an appropriate authority and simplify the process of providing information.

The Bangladeshi government's Department of Social Services with UNICEF Bangladesh's assistance under a project started Child Help Line activities as a pilot initiative all over the country in December 2015.

The Child Helpline has supported the prevention of 379 child marriages and 2,070 children have been provided with health and education support as well as legal aid and reintegration services throughout the country through a referral mechanism, according to UNICEF. Endit