Report: 902 children raped in 2019

Manusher Jonno Foundation (MJF) has presented a report that revealed a surge in child deaths and rape, among others, in 2019 compared to the year before.

The organization's Program Coordinator Rafeza Shaheen presented the report at a press conference in the National Press Club Tuesday morning. 

In 2019, around 902 children were raped. Among them, 48% were between the ages of 13 and 18, and 39% were between the ages of seven and 12.

However, the number of children who were raped in 2018 was 356.

According to the report, the highest number of news reports about rapes was published in Dhaka.

Officials of Manusher Jonno Foundation (MJF) present a report at National Press Club on January 7, 2020 | Syed Zakir Hossain/Dhaka TribuneThe report also disclosed that murder was attempted on 329 children in 2019. Among them, 266 were killed, and 63 were injured.

On the other hand, around 227 children died among the 276 on whom murder was attempted.

The report illustrated different categories of child abuse such as rape, attempted rape, murder, attempted murder, abduction, torture and many more, which were formed based on information from various news and media outlets, including Prothom Alo, Samakal, The Daily Star, Dhaka Tribune, and others.

The press conference was chaired by the Executive Director of Manusher Jonno Foundation, Shaheen Anam. MP Aroma Dutta, also a social and human rights activist, and Sabina Sultana, senior program officer, of multi-sectoral program on violence against women under Ministry of Women and Children Affairs, among others, were present during the briefing.