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NOTES FROM THE FIELD: Listening to the Voices of Youth: Laboni's Story
NOTES FROM THE FIELD
Listening to the
Voices of Youth: Laboni's Story
Formed in 2003, the Child Parliament is made up of 128 children aged 14–18, two from each of Bangladesh’s 64 districts. The Parliament is part of the AED Bangladesh Human Rights Advocacy Project, which promotes and strengthens citizen-based initiatives in four priority areas: violence against women, prevention of human trafficking, children’s rights, and access to justice.
My name is Laboni Siddiqui. I am 19 years old and come from Kalihati, Tangail, a district in central Bangladesh.
In 2003, I became a member of the Child Parliament, the biggest national forum of children and adolescents. Our country is faced with many different problems, and we children are falling victim to them. Yet, no one has time to think about us. In the Child Parliament we discuss issues that affect us and hinder the beautiful future of children.
I’m filled with sorrow when I look at the existing system of education. Education is not a privilege, it is a right. Everyone has the right to receive an education. Because of poverty, most of our families cannot provide their children with nutritious food. And then there’s the problem of child marriage. People still don’t understand the negative impact that has on our society. All these problems move me enormously. I would like to think that we, the youth, can do something about them.
People in Bangladesh have the wrong idea about the abilities of children. They think we have no experience and can’t make positive contributions. Through the Child Parliament, we are starting to change those perceptions, while making suggestions to our government on how to solve the problems that we face.
I believe that in order to support children, the first thing that needs to be done is to stop neglecting them. They should be listened to, and there should be an atmosphere for them to speak out.
I wish that in the future this small initiative of ours becomes a permanent parliament. I expect the elders to reflect on our recommendations in the National Parliament, so we are all inspired to work together as a nation.
