With funding from the European Union, the Department of Social Welfare will recruit more than 1,200 additional social workers for child protection services, bringing the total number to more than 4,000.
Dhaka, March 14, 2024 – The Government of Bangladesh, with support from UNICEF, has hired more than 1,200 social workers in child protection services. This remarkable initiative highlights the importance of ensuring the well-being of children and families across the country.
As a first step towards integration into child protection and social services, the Department of Social Services (DSS) and UNICEF today jointly completed a three-day training-of-the-trainers (ToT) orientation for social workers in Dhaka.
The program is designed to equip a carefully selected group of social workers with the knowledge and skills necessary to introduce new Bangladeshi employees into the field. It will also strengthen its capacity to provide essential services in key areas such as child protection, family support, emergency response and child rights policy implementation. The goal of this initiative is to develop a highly skilled workforce, thereby improving the quality of services provided, and expanding access to the protection services provided by social workers.
“The Government of Bangladesh, under the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, is committed to protecting the children of Bangladesh from harm.The recruitment of new social workers will help strengthen the country's child protection system. It is a testament to our efforts,” said Dr. Dipu Moni, Minister of Social Welfare. “We appreciate UNICEF’s commitment to supporting government efforts, strengthening the capacity of service providers and ensuring that all children receive the care and protection they deserve,” she added. .
“Children are the future. Protecting children is essential to building a prosperous country. We welcome you. We have been committed to social welfare,” said Charles Whiteley, EU Ambassador to Bangladesh.
“While it is important to increase the number of social workers involved in child protection, it is equally important to provide them with the correct information and knowledge. “We have a very important role to play,” Sheldon said. Yet, UNICEF representative in Bangladesh.
Despite the recruitment of new social workers, challenges remain, including widespread child labor, inadequate birth registration, lack of support for children and families in institutional care, and high rates of child marriage. UNICEF emphasizes the importance of addressing these issues through collaborative efforts between governments, civil society and international partners.
Additionally, continued investment in human resources and the development of specialized training programs are required to meet the evolving needs of vulnerable children and families.
UNICEF is calling on governments to prioritize further expansion and empowerment of child protection personnel to effectively support the country's vulnerable children. UNICEF, in collaboration with the European Union and other stakeholders, remains committed to building a comprehensive national child protection system that ensures the rights and well-being of all children in Bangladesh.
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Farjana Sultana
unicef bangladesh
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Email: fasultana@unicef.org
Faria Selim
unicef bangladesh
Phone number: +8801817586096
Email: fselim@unicef.org
