Bangladesh

In partnership with the European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (ECHO) Terre des Hommes is working in Cox’s Bazar to  enhance the safety and dignity of Rohingya children and families and host communities.

Our emergency response consists of providing protection services to children in order to reduce their vulnerabilities and improve their wellbeing. Our activities include psychosocial support and case management.

On health, Terre des Hommes focuses on infants, children, adolescents and mothers. We provide an Essential Package of Health Services, including services for newborn care, management of childhood illness and non-communicable diseases, and mental health services.

And to ensure the effectiveness of health and protection service delivery, Tdh will maintain and improve the waste management system in the area.

An estimated 30,000 girls are sexually exploited in Bangladesh. Many work in brothels. The rest work out of parking lots, bus stations and parks as well as online. Bangladesh has 18 official red light districts. The children who grow up there know no better. Many boys become pimps. Girls follow their mothers to become sex workers, often before age 12.

Terre des Hommes provides victims of sexual exploitation medical care and legal support. We help children finish their education, so they learn a professional skill and get the chance to find other work. 

 In Bangladesh, searches for sex with girls occur online, too. Collaborating with internet and telephone companies, we work towards better protection from online exploitation.

We educate communities and help institutions better attend to children. We encourage governments to comply better with laws. Stop child exploitation in Bangladesh. Join our fight.

Talking about sex and sexuality is a major taboo in Bangladesh. This makes it hard to tackle various problems. People think that sexual frankness leads to more premarital sex. Early pregnancies, child marriages and medical and psychological problems related to sexual abuse are poorly handled. Almost no services exist to help victims. 

We empower child brides, children born in brothels and girls from the poorest groups of the population, the Dalit caste. We encourage them to stand up for themselves. We provide sexual and reproductive healthcare and remind them of their right to experience sexuality healthily and safely. For example, we urge them to decide for themselves if and when they want children.

We are also working to change mentalities. We do this through awareness-raising that is culturally appropriate yet aims to end child marriages, abuse and forced pregnancies.

When it comes to sexuality, everyone has the right to make their own decisions. Join our fight. Stop the sexual exploitation of children in Bangladesh.