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Project

Community-Based Child Protection Mechanisms for children of garment factory workers in Bangladesh

Sufiya, a mother of a six-year-old girl works in a garment factory in Mirupur, Bangladesh where low wages and long hours place children vulnerable to exploitation

Children of Bangladesh’s readymade garment factory workers are vulnerable to exploitation

Garment factory workers in Bangladesh are plagued with socio-economic hardship due to poor working conditions, low wages and long hours. Their children at risk of various forms of exploitation, including child labour, sexual abuse, and trafficking. The project strengthens community-based child protection mechanisms by engaging communities, training local protection actors, and empowering children and families.

 

Background

The ready-made garments sector forms the backbone of Bangladesh’s economy, generating over 80% of the country’s export earnings, providing jobs for around 4 million people, and contributing roughly 10% to the national GDP.

However, garment factory workers are often subjected to low wages and difficult working conditions leading to poverty, lack of social security and other socio-economic hardships. Their young children are often left at home in the care of an older sibling or family member. Most of them do not have access to education. They are highly vulnerable to various forms of exploitation include sexual exploitation, violence, trafficking and child labour.

The absence of robust legal enforcement, fragmented child protection mechanisms, and
insufficient resources for child safeguarding contribute to this alarming issue. Limited awareness, social stigma, and inadequate coordination among protection actors often leave children without timely support. Community-based protection systems exist in many areas but are under-resourced and lack the skills and tools needed to address exploitation effectively. Survivors often face barriers to justice and access to services, and preventive efforts are inconsistent.

Goals

Children of garment workers in Bangladesh in all oftheir diversity are better protected from sexual exploitation, and promote their rights by strengthening community-based response and support mechanisms.

  • Goal 1

    Strengthen the capacity of community-based child protection mechanisms.

  • Goal 2

    Increase community awareness on preventing and responding to child sexual exploitation.

     

  • Goal 3

    Improve referral pathways and survivor support services.

  • Goal 4

    Engage children and families as active participants in protection efforts.

Our Approach

The project works in two wards of Gazipur City Corporation and two wards in Mirpur in the Dhaka City Corporation

Early Childhood Development centres

Setting up, training teachers and enroling children in Early Childhood Development Centres (ECD) to prevent exploitation and productively engage children

Children as change agents

Children grouped in 2 Child Protection Forums where they are empowered as change agents to monitor children’s safety and well being, raise awareness and lead change

Community-based child protection

Establishing Child Protection Monitoring Committees comprising key stakeholders fostering a culture of vigilance and proactive protection, ensuring community-level accountability in child welfare.

Capacity building

Raising awareness and providing training on child safeguarding to readymade garment factory workers and employers along with government agencies and law enforcement authorities

Child-friendly reporting and referral services

Developing and implementing child-friendly reporting and referral systems to tackle cases of exploitation.

Strengthening coordination

Strengthening coordination between community actors, service providers, and law enforcement for stronger mechanisms to protect children

Our Results

  • Formed 20 Children and Youth Groups (500 members) and established 2 Child Protection Forums comprising 63 children, building their knowledge, skills, and leadership to act as Change Agents on child protection and rights issues.
  • Set up 16 Early Childhood Development Centres and enrolled 1725 children.
  • Community-based committees actively identified and addressed 246 cases of exploitation, strengthening referral pathways linking survivors to services and justice.
  • Increased community knowledge of child protection rights and reporting channels among 472 readymade garment factory workers and 198 employers.
  • Enhanced child participation in community protection planning.

Our Partners

Implementing Partners

Funding partners

Garcia Foundation

The aim of the GARCIA Foundation is to support, whether or not in the form of grants, organizations that aim to permanently improve the well-being of children in disadvantaged positions.