1 I s s u e 11 I Ma r c h 2 0 0 9

N E W S I N B R I E F
Shetra is a child prostitute in Barisal, Bangladesh.
Here, she shares her story.
My father died when I was six or seven, so my mother
always had to work to support us. She is a maid
servant in two or three houses in Barisal. When my
mother goes to work, I look after my smallest sister
who is only 11 months old. My middle sister is eight
and I am 13.
All four of us live in a rented house in Barisal, but the
rent is very expensive. My mother often cant earn
enough as a maid servant and things are very diffcult.
Sometimes we cant manage food or the rent for our
house. I began to think that I really needed to earn
some money myself to help us out, so I decided to look
for a job.
For a short while, I worked as a maid but my employer
beat me and only gave me one meal a day, so I quit.
Then, two months ago I started working as a prostitute.
My mother doesnt know where I go when I leave to
meet men. I tell her that I am going to visit a friend.
When I give her the money afterwards and she asks
me where it came from, I tell her that I got a day-job
on the roads chipping bricks. This is the story that I tell
everyone.
I started as a sex worker because of one of our
neighbors. He is close friends with my family, so I call
him uncle, even though he is not my relative. One
day he called to me and said that he had someone for
me to meet at his house. When I got to his house, he
introduced me to another man who he said I should
also call uncle. I had never met him before.
This second uncle asked me to go with him. We went
to a hotel together and that was my frst time. It hurt
a lot. Since then, two or three days a week I go to the
hotel with this uncle. One time he took me to his home
when no one else was there. Ive been to other hotels
and sometimes to houses when the wives are away.
Once, with another man, I went to Koakata, which is a
town about three hours from here by bus. Before we
My story
thE lIFE oF a chIld pRoStItutE
In Focus: protection of children at Risk
thousands of children in Bangladesh are exposed to abuse, exploitation, trafficking and voilence. this edition
focuses on these children at risk and what uNIcEF is doing to protect them.
Continued on page 15
a child prostitute in Barisal, Bangladesh.

S
h
e
h
z
a
d

N
o
o
r
a
n
i
/
U
N
I
C
E
F
Newsletter
uNIcEF Bangladesh
www.unicef.org.bd
I s s u e 11 , Ma r c h 2 0 0 9
2 uNI cEF Ba n g l a d e s h Ne ws l e t t e r
I N t h I S I S S u E
Editor:
christine Jaulmes
Contributors:
casey Mccarthy, Kathryn Seymour, Naimul
haq, Morshed Bilal Khan
Design & layout:
Syed Makhlesur Rahman
cont ent s
In Focus
ProtectIon oF chIldren at rIsk ..................... 3
learnIng to smIle ........................................... 4
a day In yuseFs lIFe ....................................... 5
returned camel jockeys sPark communIty
educatIon on chIld rIghts ............................... 6
on FIlm
ProtectIon oF chIldren at rIsk ..................... 8
In the FIeld
adolescents take the lead to raIse
hIV/aIds awareness ................................... 10
sPeak out
adolescents talk about hIV/aIds .............. 12
real lIVes
lIVIng wIth hIV ............................................ 13
wIth thanks
workIng In PartnershIP: swedIsh
InternatIonal deVeloPment agency .............. 14
news In brIeF ............................................... 16
Q&a WIth
uNIcEF StaFF
Name: anwar hossain
Occupation: Driver, Dhaka offce
length of service: 22 years
What was your frst
job? as the eldest of
a family of nine chil-
dren, I started working
at 17 years with the
armed military police.
For three years I was
a policeman and an-
other two years I was
a police driver. It was
a good job to have
then (something was
better than nothing!) but the pay was just
227 taka per month, which was not enough
to support my family. I resigned and started
working as a driver for private companies.
I then spent two years driving for a British
company, followed by one year with a cana-
dian company, before joining uNIcEF.
tell us about your family and childhood? I
grew up on a farm in dinaspur, in north-east
Bangladesh, with my seven sisters and one
brother. My father grew rice and wheat. It is
my favorite part of Bangladesh, the people
are very nice and everything is cheaper.
My wife Sultanana Gia and I have fve
children. Two of our daughters have fnished
their Masters and are working in banks in
dhaka. one daughter is in class 10, and my
sons are in classes 10 and seven.
Why do you work for UNICEF? uNIcEF is
a good environment. In my way, I am doing
something to help mothers and children. and
the money I earn helps me to provide for my
family and give my children a good educa-
tion.
I have driven for UNICEF on feld trips all
across Bangladesh which I really enjoy. I
also have a very good relationship with my
supervisor, who I can talk to if I feel there are
any problems. But staff take care of me while
we are away on trips (making sure I have
accommodation and food) and I enjoy look-
ing out for them (especially foreign staff who
might not know Bangladesh very well). o
3 I s s u e 11 I Ma r c h 2 0 0 9
children in Bangladesh are vulnerable to violence
within the family, at schools, at work places, within
institutions and on the streets.
Violence against children takes different forms:
physical abuse, molestation, acid throwing,
traffcking and sexual abuse including rape
and various kinds of sexual exploitation for
commercial purposes.
More than half a million children are estimated
to live on the streets in Bangladesh. Many
children who live on the streets are forced to
work to support themselves and their families.
approximately 13% of children aged 5-14 years
are involved in child labour.
a recent uNIcEF study on the commercial sexual
exploitation of children in Bangladesh found that a
half of the children surveyed were initially involved
in child labour. Involvement in child labour leads
to a situation in which a child can easily be
pushed out of informal safety-nets and exposed to
abuse and exploitation.
the survey found the average age at which
surveyed children frst became involved in
commercial sexual exploitation was 13 years.
commercial sexual exploitation of children is often
linked to traffcking. Many girls are traffcked into
sexual exploitation or bonded servitude and many
boys have been traffcked to the Middle East to
become camel racing jockeys. Many children are
taken with their parents consent, having been
duped by stories of well-paid jobs or marriages.
It is estimated that 50,000 children live in
Bangladeshs orphanages and child care
institutions, however the actual number is
probably higher than that. o
I N F o c u S
The embroidered edge of her dress in his mouth, a boy stands in front of his mother in the village of Bhaluka,
Mymensingh district.
thE FactS:
chIldREN IN NEEd oF pRotEctIoN

S
h
e
h
z
a
d

N
o
o
r
a
n
i
/
U
N
I
C
E
F
4 uNI cEF Ba n g l a d e s h Ne ws l e t t e r
lEaRNING to SMIlE
Jamals eyes tell a thousand stories. When he looks at
you, suffering and survival stare back. only 16 years
old, Jamal has experienced so much in his life. When
Jamal was just 11 his father died. to help support his
family Jamal was forced to work and severely beaten
by his older brother if he didnt.
to escape the abuse he was facing at home, 13 year
old Jamal jumped on a bus to dhaka. lost in a big city
and with no one to help him, Jamal found himself in
New Market working with other street children as a taxi
porter and selling whatever he could. he would work
all day and make little money because shop keepers
exploited him and accused him of stealing.
Jamal knew that education would help change his
life. Several of his friends were attending an open-air
school in New Market, so Jamal also started going. It
was there that he heard about the drop-in centre run
by the NGo aparajeyo Bangladesh and supported by
uNIcEF.
I grew up too fast, Jamal said. I didnt want to stay
living on the streets. I wanted a better life. When I
heard about the drop-in centre I asked to join the
house and stay.
Jamal now lives at the drop-in centre, which provides
shelter for 47 other boys aged from 8 to 18 years old.
there, he started vocational training in wood work.
It is clear that the younger boys adore Jamal. he is
genuine, affectionate and much more mature than his
16 years.
Jamals ambition is to empower other children. he is a
peer educator at the drop-in centre and also works as
a youth motivator to help children who were victims of
sexual exploitation. Jamal received specific training to
run this support programme.
Jamals face lights up when he talks about his role to
empower other children.
I was disadvantaged so I want to use my experience
to help other disadvantaged children. I want to help
protect them so they can have a better life too.
I had no value living in the street. Now, living here, I
strongly believe that I have value. I feel respected here.
all the children feel valued and love each other. Weve
all been given the opportunity to change our lives.
that afternoon, Jamal is organising a sing-along
as part of the activities he helps organize as peer
educator. little Mahfuz stands up in front of the rest of
the boys and sings a hindi song. the happiness in the
room is almost tangible; all the boys are clapping their
hands and beaming with pride.
I N F o c u S
pRotEctIoN oF chIldREN at RISK
Jamal (16, centre) and some of the boys at the UNICEF
supported PCAR (Protection of Children At Risk) drop-in
center at Lalbagh in Dhaka. One of the eldest boys at the
centre, Jamals eye light up when he talks about his role
as a Youth Motivator.
the protection of children at Risk (pcaR) project
began in april 2007. the project aims to protect
children living on the street and children without
parental care from abuse, exploitation and violence.
drop-in-centres (dIc) are a key component of
the project where children living on the street
are provided basic supports (food, rest, bathing,
recreation), primary medical care by qualified health
personnel, psycho-social support through expert
counsellors, education and vocational and life
skills training) 24 hours a day. Vocational training
is an important part of the pcaR project aimed at
developing alternative marketable skills for these
children. Since the project began, more than 5000
children have received services at the dIcs across
Bangladesh.
at open-air schools, children can attend three hour
classes each morning or afternoon. here they
receive non-formal education on a range of issues
from first aid, health and personal hygiene, to life
skills, reading and writing. In 2008 almost 7500
children were enrolled in two six-month classes held
in 111 open air schools across Bangladesh.
uNIcEF is also working at a national policy level to
develop a protection mechanism for all children at risk
and is advocating for legislative reform to address major
child rights issues.

S
a
l
m
a

S
i
d
d
i
q
u
e
/
U
N
I
C
E
F
5 I s s u e 11 I Ma r c h 2 0 0 9
a daY IN YuSEFS lIFE
the sun has not yet risen when Yusef and Smaile are
woken from sleep. By 4am the port is alive with men
and boys running about preparing for the day. the
wholesale fruit market down the street is buzzing with
early morning neighbourhood chatter. Yusef (14) and
his young brother Smaile (10) are woken because their
bed is the hard wooden planks of the pier.
today is like any other for the brothers. Woken early,
the boys wash themselves at a boat docked at the pier,
collect their empty bottles and look for other bottles that
have been thrown away that they can reuse. they walk
down to the fresh water pump and fill the bottles. they
walk to the hotel area where they beg for fried rice and
tomatoes for breakfast from the people eating at local
cafes. on a good day the boys get some leftovers. on
a bad day they go hungry.
the boys wander around the area, trying to sell
fresh water from their bottles before they arrive at
the uNIcEF-supported open-air school at 9am. the
boys go to the school for informal education every
day. the school offers the boys education, friendship,
recreation, hygiene facilities and an opportunity for
a better life. It was at the open-air school that Yusef
and Smaile registered their births the first official
acknowledgement of a childs existence and means to
secure their rights and access to services and benefits
such as immunization, health care and education.
at the school today is the monthly student meeting. at
the meeting, the boys and girls discuss the problems
they face and work together to find solutions. the
meetings are held once a month and each time a
different child is elected to chair the meeting. the
meetings encourage child participation, builds their
decision-making skills (by helping them to identify
problems and find a solution), and teaches them about
politics and democracy. the students who nominate
themselves as a candidate for chairperson must stand
up in front of their classmates and deliver a speech
about why they are up to the task. an older boy, Shahin
(a peer educator at a nearby drop-in centre), reminds
his classmates of the importance of the meeting.
the chairperson should be someone who comes
every day, follows the rules, listens, and knows what
we need, Shahin said.
once the speeches are complete, the students, in turn,
call out the name of the candidate they vote for. the
teacher collects the votes, reminds the children that its
not about winning and losing but about participation,
and announces the democratically elected chairperson.
today, Robin is elected meeting chairperson. he
moves to the front of the class where he sits beside
the teacher. his first task is to set the agenda for the
meeting. today the children discuss food hygiene,
health problems and school cleanliness. at the end of
the discussion about each topic, Robin must consider
all the suggested solutions before recommending one.
the children discuss how they know about food
hygiene but say it is hard to maintain outside of the
school. Many of the children live on the street and dont
have the means to prepare their own food. If they are
begging for food, how can they ensure it is fresh and
clean? the children discuss the problem and possible
solutions. one boy suggests eating at the nearby drop-
in centre. another boy suggests before we eat, we
must think to ourselves: is it fresh? another boy adds
make sure your hands are clean before you eat it.
the children complain that they are often sick. how
can they stay healthy? one boy suggests that they
come to see the health worker who visits the school
each week. another solution is to visit the health
worker who is always at the drop-in centre. We can
stay healthy by keeping ourselves clean, especially
our hands when we are eating and making sure we eat
fresh food and water, one boys says.
at 12pm, when the meeting is over, the children play
a few games of carum and spend some time with their
friends before they must return to work.
I N F o c u S
Smaile, 10, and Yusef, 14, live by themselves on the
streets on Dhaka, Bangladesh. They make a living by
collecting plastic bottles and flling them with fresh water.
Continued on page 13

C
a
s
e
y

M
c
C
a
r
t
h
y

/
U
N
I
C
E
F
this project is funded by the UNICEF National
Committees of Italy, spain and sweden.
6 uNI cEF Ba n g l a d e s h Ne ws l e t t e r
I N F o c u S
ten year old Kawsar hossain has been regularly
attending school but his progress is slow. Kawsar is
unable to read and write as fast as his classmates
because his left eye was severely damaged when he
fell from a camels back while riding in a race in the
united arab Emirates (uaE) three and a half years ago.
Kawsar and his elder brother, awal hossain, along with
their mother, Julekha Bibi, were smuggled from their
home in Koreagram village, Borura upazila in comilla
district, south east of Bangladesh to the arab state
where camel racing is one of the most popular sports.
Such sports have great demand for lightweight children
to be used as camel jockeys. due to extreme poverty
Bangladeshi children are vulnerable to exploitation and
trafficking.
children, such as Kawsar and awal, who were sold
into camel jockeying in the uaE are forced to train and
are sometimes tortured. Some of the children were
injected with hormones to retard growth and control
their weight.
In 2005, the uaE government banned the use of
children under the age of 18 in camel racing. uNIcEF
supported the long process of repatriating Bangladeshi
children and, in some cases, their families, with funding
from uaE Government.
Kawsar and awal are among 168 children who are
now in the process of being socially and economically
reintegrated in their respective communities in 65
upazilas in 25 districts across Bangladesh through
post-reintegration activities.
community care committees were established to
assist in each childs rehabilitation and reintegration
and to educate families and communities about child
protection, trafficking and child rights. the committees,
supported by uNIcEF, are working to reduce the
vulnerability of children to trafficking in the future.
there is a sense of understanding, especially among
previously ignorant mothers who are the common
targets of the traffickers. today these women have
learnt to refuse lucrative offers like jobs, money or even
a better life abroad, said Razia Begum, mother of
three young children.
ayesha Begum, who heads a community care
committee in Koreagram explained that many of the
children had forgotten Bangla.
Initially we had problems reintegrating Kawsar and
Awal and Kawsar Hossain and their mother Julekha Bibi have returned to Bangladesh from the UAE where the boys were
forced to race camels.
REtuRNEd caMEl JocKEYS SpaRK
coMMuNItY EducatIoN oN chIld
RIGhtS

A
m
i
n
/
U
N
I
C
E
F
7 I s s u e 11 I Ma r c h 2 0 0 9
I N F o c u S
his brother in the community as they spoke no local
language. Without speaking the local language the
brothers could neither make friends nor enroll in
school, she said.
community elder and committee member abdul Majid
said, We worked hard to teach the children their native
language as fast as possible.
Kawsar and awal are very timid but they have gradually
made friends and now attend school regularly.
the committees in Borura and surrounding upazilas
designed an education programme on child rights
and prevention of human trafficking that targets youth
between 12 and 18 years and their parents.
Rights to child education, healthcare, nutrition,
protection and security are some of the major
messages we discuss with children during meetings
after school hours, said Shirin akhtar who heads a
committee in Vherella union in Burichang upazila.
Burichang is located about 25 km north of Borura
upazila where traffickers are said to be quite active due
to its Indian border proximity.
class seven student Mohidul Islam said, We feel good
to know about our rights and other important issues like
trafficking through these informal discussions.
Fellow schoolmate papri said, Sadly, these issues
on child rights are not included as topics in school
curriculum. however, since the committee began
working in schools and madrashas (Islamic primary
schools) children in this area are far better aware of the
issues of rights and human trafficking.
committee leaders also coordinate regularly with
government, upazila and union members at the
monthly district anti-trafficking committee meetings.
as compensation, the uaE Government gave each
repatriated child tk 1.04 lakh. the money is held in an
account in the name of the child and his parents until
the he turns 18. In the meantime annual interest can
be used to support the childs livelihood or care, which
is a valuable assistance for families living in poverty,
preventing the children to be trafficked again. the
committees monitor the use of this money to ensure
the childrens best interests.
despite this positive progress at the community level,
poverty remains a major problem in dealing with child
exploitation and trafficking. Many extremely poor
families are easily deceived by promises of well-paid
employment and are vulnerable to traffickers.
uNIcEF is working with the Government of
Bangladesh to develop a national child protection
mechanism, which focuses on interventions at
community level, such as those being done by these
community care committees, said uNIcEFs
chief of child protection, Rose-anne papavero.
We will continue to support their work to raise
awareness of child protection issues, particularly in
rural and remote parts of Bangladesh where families
are at greater risk. o
Community Care Committees work to rehabilitate and reintegrate camel jockeys; educate families and communities about
child protection, traffcking and child rights; and reduce the vulnerability of children to traffcking in the future.

A
m
i
n
/
U
N
I
C
E
F
this project is funded by the United Arab
Emirates Government.
8 uNI cEF Ba n g l a d e s h Ne ws l e t t e r
o N F I l M
1
Kalu (12) works in a timber shop
in dhaka where he earns just
40 taka a day (50c uS). like Kalu,
41% of the population in Bangladesh
lives on less than $1 uS a day
and 84% live on less than $2 uS
a day. For this reason, millions of
children across Bangladesh are
forced to work, often in hazardous
and low-waged jobs, to help support
themselves and their families.
2
Rubel works at a mobile tea
stall behind chittagong Railway
Station. he earns 600 taka ($9 uS)
a month for his work. Because Rubel
is forced to work he cannot afford the
time to attend regular school. often
children in Rubels situation become
trapped in low-skilled, low-income
jobs which further push them into
the vicious cycle of intergenerational
poverty.
3
Boys play atop a pile of garbage
Sadarghat Ferry terminal in
dhaka. Forced to work up to 12
hours a day, children in Bangladesh
rarely have time for recreation,
let alone time to attend regular
schooling.
4
two boys with rug bags that
they use to collect material from
garbage at Sadarghat Ferry terminal
in dhaka. the boys, like millions of
Bangladeshi children, work for an
average of 8 to 12 hours a day.
5
a boy sorts through garbage
for recyclable material near
chittagong Railway Station. any
reusable materials are sold to
a mahajon (businessman) for
recycling.
1 2
3
4 5

N
a
s
e
r

S
i
d
d
i
q
u
e
/
U
N
I
C
E
F

S
h
e
h
z
a
d

N
o
o
r
a
n
i
/
U
N
I
C
E
F

S
h
e
h
z
a
d

N
o
o
r
a
n
i
/
U
N
I
C
E
F

S
h
e
h
z
a
d

N
o
o
r
a
n
i
/
U
N
I
C
E
F
this project is funded
by the UNICEF National
Committees of Italy,
spain and sweden.
9 I s s u e 11 I Ma r c h 2 0 0 9
6
children take bath at uNIcEF-
supported pcaR (protection
of children at Risk) drop-in centre
at Karwan Bazaar, dhaka. the
centers offer children safe food and
water, health care, education and
recreation facilities as well as linking
them with vocational training and
formal education.
7
children who visit the drop-in
centers learn about and help to
prepare healthy food. preventative
and curative health concerns are
addressed at the drop-in centers
through paramedic visits, with
referral services to partner NGo
health centers and government
clinics and hospitals. Behavioural
chance and communication sessions
are organized on issues such as
Stds, hIV/aIdS prevention and
reproductive health.
8
a child organizes his locker
at the pcaR drop-in centre at
Karwan Bazaar, dhaka. children
who live and work on the street are
provided with 24-hour resting and
sleeping areas, bathing and toilet
facilities, lockers and three males
every day.
9
the girls share a laugh on their
way to class at the drop-in centre
at Naya Bazaar, dhaka. From a life
on the street, the girls are given
food, shelter and the education they
need to build brighter futures.
10
children who live and work
on the street are also invited
through the pcaR project to receive
informal education at open air
schools, like this one at Sadarghat,
dhaka. children attend the schools
for a three- or six-month education
programme where they learn literacy
and numeracy skills as well as about
health, hygiene, services available to
them and life skills.
o N F I l M
6
7
8 9
10
Salma Siddique/UNICEF

S
h
e
h
z
a
d

N
o
o
r
a
n
i
/
U
N
I
C
E
F

S
h
e
h
z
a
d

N
o
o
r
a
n
i
/
U
N
I
C
E
F

C
a
s
e
y

M
c
C
a
r
t
h
y
/
U
N
I
C
E
F
Shehzad Noorani/UNICEF
10 uNI cEF Ba n g l a d e s h Ne ws l e t t e r
I N t h E F I E l d
the voices of more than 10,000 adolescent boys
and girls were heard loud and clear as they marched
across Bangladesh in december. chanting We are
the leaders; we will stop aIdS and wearing special
t-shirts, their message resonated across the country.
In one area of dhaka, the capital city, police closed a
major road to give them room for their demonstration,
which attracted the curiosity of bystanders.
leading by example, the adolescents rallied together
to promote hIV/aIdS awareness to mark World
aIdS day, truly embodying the 2008 theme lead
Empower deliver.
although Bangladesh is still considered to be a low
prevalence country for hIV/aIdS (with a prevalence
rate of less than 1 per cent), prevention efforts are
crucial to prevent the epidemic to spread among
vulnerable groups, especially young people. according
to the recent children and aIdS, third Stocktaking
Report 2008 published by four uN agencies, only
16 per cent of girls aged between 15 and 24 have a
comprehensive knowledge of hIV. Yet, as in many
countries, young Bangladeshis are at risk of hIV. More
than 40 per cent of hIV infections globally occur among
young people. But young people can also play a critical
role in raising awareness and promoting safe behaviour.
this is one of the objectives of uNIcEF supported
adolescent Empowerment project, Kishori abhijan: to
inform adolescents on hIV/aIdS and safe behaviours.
Moreover, the project encourages adolescents to
become actively involved in the prevention drive. under
the project, peer leaders receive life skills training that
equips them to tackle issues of hIV/aIds among others.
adolescents become agents of change by encouraging
conversations within communities and breaking some
of the taboos surrounding reproductive health.
this year, thousands of adolescents involved in the
project, which is implemented in collaboration with
NGos BRac and cMES, helped coordinate rallies
and other awareness raising activities, disseminate
information and encourage dialogue about hIV/aIdS.
trained peer leaders, such as Shati (17) and Rokon
(17) who live in Mirpur in the north-west of dhaka,
have been working together with their friends to plan
for World aIdS day. Shati and Rokon developed rally
slogans and scripts for theater plays on hIV/aIdS and
helped organise a girls soccer match at the community
ground a novelty in a country where girls playing
football is unusual. after the match, adolescents
from the local centre staged a play highlighting key
messages on hIV.
hIV is very dangerous. I want people to know about
it so I joined the rally. In Bangladesh hIV/aIdS is a
problem that is difficult to discuss in our society,Shati
said.
people think that its not a risk because we dont live a
western style of life, but everyone needs to know about
these things to protect themselves.
When I joined the adolescent centre, Rokon said, I
spoke to my male and female friends at school. I also
discussed the topic of hIV/aIdS with my family. It is
important for us as adolescents to know about hIV/
aIdS, but it is also important for everyone young and
old.
uNIcEF child protection officer Mads Sorensen said
World aIdS day activities organized by adolescents
across Bangladesh aimed at encouraging group
discussion sessions with parents and community
leaders.
By building understanding and awareness on
hIV/aIdS among families and communities, we
will contribute to further strengthen the protective
environment surrounding children and adolescents,
Mads said.
adolescents, especially girls, also need the support
of their communities to take active roles and
participate positively in their communities. their active
participation here in dhaka today demonstrates that
this is possible if they are empowered.
World aIdS day rallies and awareness raising
activities were held in panchagor, Nilphamari,
Nowgaon, Rajshahi, chapai, Jamalpur, Sherpur, coxs
Bazar, dhaka, Kushtia, Sylhet, chandpur, comilla,
Joypurhat and Gainanda (coordinated by BRac)
and in chittagong, Barguna, Rangpur and chapai
(coordinated by cMES). o
66,000 Bangladeshi adolescents are involved in
the Kishori Abhijan project, which is implemented
in collaboration with NGOs BRAC, Shishu
Academy and CMES. Among other activites
the adolecents are helping to coordinate rallies
disseminate information and encourage dialogue
about HIV/AIDS.
Adolescents tAke the leAd to rAise
hiV/Aids AwAreness
this project is funded by the European Union.
11 I s s u e 11 I Ma r c h 2 0 0 9
I N t h E F I E l d
THE FACTS: HIV/AIDS In BAnglADESH
The frst case of HIV/AIDS in Bangladesh was detected in 1989. Since then 1495 cases of HIV/AIDS have
been reported (as of December 2008). However UNAIDS estimates that the number of people living with HIV
in the country may be as high as 12,000, which is within the range of the low estimate by UNICEFs State of
the Worlds Children Report 2009. The overall prevalence of HIV in Bangladesh is less than 1%, however, high
levels of HIV infection have been found among injecting drug users (7% in one part of the capital city, Dhaka).
Due to limited access to voluntary counseling and testing services, very few Bangladeshis are aware of their
HIV status.
Although still considered to be a low prevalence country, Bangladesh remains extremely vulnerable to an HIV
epidemic, given its dire poverty, overpopulation, gender inequality and high levels of transactional sex. The
emergence of a generalized HIV epidemic would be a disaster that poverty-stricken Bangladesh could ill-
afford. It is estimated that without any intervention the prevalence in the general adult population could be as
high as 2% in 2012 and 8% by 2025 .
Between 20,000 40,000 people in Bangladesh inject drugs , 57% borrow needles and only one in three use
sterile equipment. This percentage is much higher in female injecting drug users (74%). More than half (57%)
of injecting drug users (IDUs) are married and most IDUs are sexually active (with an average of two partners).
In Bangladeshs capital city, Dhaka, the HIV rate among IDUs is 6.4% . o
1
adolescents march
through the streets
of dhaka on World aIdS
day. More than 10,000
adolescents rallied across
the country to promote hIV/
aIdS, under the theme for
the day: lead - Empower -
deliver.
2
a group of adolescents
gather to watch a girls
soccer game and interactive
popular theatre - events to
raise awareness of hIV/aIdS
in their community.
3
adolescent boys and
girls participate in
interactive popular theatre.
the play, watched by
their families, friends and
community, discusses the
taboo topic of hIV/aIdS, how
it can be transmitted and
safe behaviours.
1
2 3

C
a
s
e
y

M
c
C
a
r
t
h
y
/
U
N
I
C
E
F

C
a
s
e
y

M
c
C
a
r
t
h
y
/
U
N
I
C
E
F
Casey McCarthy/UNICEF
12 uNI cEF Ba n g l a d e s h Ne ws l e t t e r
S p E a K o u t
hIV is very dangerous and I
want people to know about it.
In Bangladesh hIV and aIdS
are a problem and its diffcult
to discuss it in our society.
people think that its not a
risk because we dont live a
fast life (western lifestyle),
but everyone needs to know
about these things to protect
themselves. Shati (17)
I learnt about hIV and
aIdS through the centre
and when an NGo made
a visit to my school. By
talking about it with my
friends we have learnt
that it is a dangerous
and incurable disease
which can be transmitted
through blood, shared
syringes and unprotected
sex. Ruhul (15)
I joined the rally to
raise awareness about
aIdS. When I joined
the adolescent centre,
I spoke to my male
and female friends
at the course and at
school and I discussed
the topic with my
family. It is important
for us as adolescents
to know about hIV and
aIds, but its important
for everyone young
and old. Rokon (17)
I want young people to know
about aIdS so that they can
prevent themselves from getting
it. I have told my family and
friends what I have learnt about
hIV and aIdS to help spread
awareness. Mousumi (11)
adolescents should
know how to prevent
hIV and aIdS because
it is an important time
for them. I was willing to
come and learn about
hIV and aIdS so that I
could educate my family
and friends about it too.
Rocky (16)
When I learnt about hIV
and aIdS I learnt how it
can be transmitted and
prevented, but also how
it cant (sharing food
and touching). I also
learnt how to behave
with people with hIV and
aIdS. Rashida (15),
centre leader
Adolescents talk
about HIV/AIDS
According to UNAIDS, 45% of
all HIV new cases in 2007 were
found among young people aged
15-24 years.
On average, about 30% of
males and 19% of females aged
15-24 in developing countries
have comprehensive and correct
knowledge about HIV and how to avoid
transmission.
The Adolescent Empowerment project,
Kishori Abhijan educates adolescents
about HIV/AIDS and other important
issues. Adolescents become agents of
change by encouraging conversations
within their communities, breaking
cultural taboos.
Casey McCarthy/UNICEF and Salma Siddique/UNICEF
S
h
a
t
i

(
1
7
)
R
u
h
u
l

(
1
5
)
Rokon (17)
R
a
s
h
id
a
(1
5
)
R
o
c
k
y
(1
6
)
M
o
u
s
u
m
i

(
1
1
)
13 I s s u e 11 I Ma r c h 2 0 0 9
R E a l l I V E S
Bilal* does not look like a man suffering from a serious
illness. he looks lean, healthy and happy, but Bilal has
been infected by the hIV virus.
Bilal grew up without the love and affection of his
parents. he was eventually taken into his relatives
custody, where he received the care he deserved.
across the street from his new house in dhaka lived
an old pakistani man. Bilal would often run errands
for him and one day, returning from an errand, he
observed the old man chewing something strange.
With the curiosity of young boy, Bilal stole some of the
substance from the wooden box where the old man
kept it.
at just eight years old, Bilal had his first experience
with afim, an opiate drug.
he began to steal more and more frequently, but soon
the old man caught on and stopped him. two years
later Bilal traded afim for cigarettes and cannabis
(ganja). he continued these habits for the next five
years. In his mid-teens Bilal became involved with
black market business and began earning large
amounts of money. a friend introduced him to alcohol
and brothels and he started visiting sex workers
regularly. to support his drug habit Bilal took a job as
a truckers assistant and supplemented his income with
petty crime activity like snatching and terrorizing.
at 25 years of age, recently married with a newborn
son, Bilal was caught by police and sent to prison
for three years. When Bilal was released from prison
he fell back into the habit of drugs - this time heroin.
his family couldnt accept his unlawful activities and
drug habit and kicked him out of the house. alone,
Bilal left for India in search of a better life. Bilal began
injecting heroin which was cheaper, easily available
and delivered a more intense high. he shared his
needles and syringes with friends when they got
together to inject heroin or cocktailed drugs. this
practice continued for almost 15 years.
Bilal reflects that time of his life gave very little but took
away so much he was forced to leave his family and
was neglected by society.
In 2004, when Bilal had returned to Bangladesh,
an NGo extended their help to him. they provided
information, counseling support, treatment and referred
him to the uNIcEF-supported Voluntary counseling
and testing centre in Jagori where he was tested and
learnt he was hIV positive.
Bilal was overwhelmed by the discovery that he was
hIV positive. he didnt know much about the disease,
but knew it was incurable. Bilal thought his life was
over. Bilals counselor and doctor gave him mental and
emotional support, explained to him how to prevent the
transmission of hIV to his partner and from parent to
child. Bilal realized he still had a chance to lead a good
life, completed a six-month detoxification program and
reunited with his family.
Bilal still dreams of a happy future for his family and
children and hopes to be a part of their lives for many
years to come. o
* Bilals name has been changed to protect his identity
Living with hiv
A UNICEF poster promoting HIV/AIDS awareness and
prevention is taped to the window of a drop-in centre of
the Bangladesh Womens Health Coalition, in the city of
Tangail in Tangail District. Across the street women sex
workers wait for customers in front of the Kandhapara
brothel. Girls also work at the brothel.
Voluntary counseling and testing (Vct) is
an integral part of hIV prevention programs
worldwide. Vct allows people to learn of their hIV
status, provides information on prevention and
transmission and links them with services, support
and care.
uNIcEF contributes to hIV prevention efforts
through the hIV/aIdS prevention project (happ)
from 2004-2007 and the hIV/aIdS targeted
Interventions (hatI) project in 2008-2009. uNIcEF
works with NGos to implement prevention
activities among the most at-risk populations
injecting drug users, sex workers, mobile
populations, men who have sex with men, and
clients of sex workers. Services were provided
through 146 drop-in centers (dIcs) in 44 districts
of Bangladesh.

S
h
e
h
z
a
d

N
o
o
r
a
n
i
/
U
N
I
C
E
F
14 uNI cEF Ba n g l a d e s h Ne ws l e t t e r
W I t h t h a N K S
uNIcEF collaborates with government ministries,
non-government organizations, uN agencies and a
wide range of donors.
uNIcEF is funded entirely by voluntary
contributions. the Swedish International
development agency (SIda) is one of uNIcEF
Bangladeshs top fve donors, funding a range of
education and child protection projects.
here, Swedens ambassador in Bangladesh,
Britt Hagstrm, discusses SIDAs commitment to
working alongside uNIcEF for the protection and
empowerment of children in Bangladesh.
SIda is a major donor of uNIcEF Bangladeshs
child protection and Education programmes. Why
are these issues of particular importance to SIda?
Sweden, like Bangladesh, has ratifed the UN
convention of the Rights of the child and thus has
an obligation to support countries in the protection of
childrens rights.
Sweden is committed to the Education For all
initiative and the fulfllment of the Millennium
development Goals.
Sweden is also a signatory to the paris principles
of aid Effectiveness and the country programme is
therefore fully aligned with the Bangladesh poverty
Reduction Strategy.
the Swedish country cooperation Strategy with
Bangladesh focuses on the perspectives of the poor
and their rights, stating that the right to education
and a clean and healthy environment is fulflled for
women, men, girls and boys living in poverty.
have you seen any improvements in SIda-
supported projects in Bangladesh recently?
the Basic Education for hard to Reach urban
Working children (BEhtRuWc) has focused on
children, especially girls, doing hazardous work.
the project integrates child protection measures,
such as rigorous monitoring and follow-up of the
childrens situation both inside and outside the
learning centres.
During the frst phase of the project almost 350,000
children (aged 8 14) received a two-year basic
education course. Few students dropped out and
classes closed with more students then originally
enrolled. one thousand of those graduates (aged
12-14) were provided with livelihood skills training.
In the second phase of the project (continuing
until 2011), more than 6,600 learning centres are
providing life skills based basic education to more
than 166,000 urban working children. one key area
of concern is ensuring safe livelihoods for these
children.
We have also seen some signifcant progress
in the teaching - learning process and parental
and community involvement. Further focus on
the employers role and responsibility is a key
aspect. all this has led to improvements in terms of
learning, safety at the workplace, security of children
attending learning centres and, not least, happier
children.
as a direct result of this project, working children
and adolescents have better access to their
rights for education, protection, participation and
development.
accessing these rights empowers children to make
decisions regarding their own futures and access to
a wider range of life options.
What are SIdas priorities in 2009 in regards to work
you are sponsoring in Bangladesh?
Improving the lives of the poor through
tangible results, ensuring a rights perspective
in programming, human security and gender
equality and democratic governance are our main
priorities. the four principles of participation, non-
discrimination, transparency and accountability will
guide our work in Bangladesh in 2009.
SIda supports programmes in africa, latin america,
central and Eastern Europe as well as asia. how, in
SIdas eyes, is asia (and Bangladesh in particular)
progressing to meet the Millennium development
Goals?
the mid-term Millennium development Goal report
shows that Bangladesh is doing well to achieve its
targets, as it is on track in most cases. however,
maternal health and the completion of primary
education require special attention. o
WORKNG N PARTNERSHP: SWEDSH
NTERNATONAL DEVELOPMENT AGENCY
15 I s s u e 11 I Ma r c h 2 0 0 9
R E a l l I V E S
left, the man promised to give me 200 taka ($3 uS), but
he only gave me 100 taka. I didnt know what to do, so
just went home with the money.
I dont use condoms. I used to think: if I only get 50 taka
each time, how can I spend my money on condoms? I
didnt know that they werent very expensive.
Normally, the oldest men come to me. I think that they
are mostly over 40 years old. My neighbour uncle
usually calls me when there is a man for me. I dont
know if there are other girls that he calls, but there
might be.
I feel pain every time. I also feel pain when I have my
period. I had only had my period fve times before I went
with my second uncle. I want to stop doing this, but I
dont know how because my mother needs the money. I
dont want to continue because then I know that I wont
have an education, but I need to help feed my family.
Shetra came to the attention of local NGO Association of
Voluntary Action for Society (AVAS) when a hotel-based
peer educator found her in a hotel. The hotel to which
Shetra accompanies her uncles is regularly used by
other prostitutes and their clients.
AVAS runs a drop-in-centre funded by UNICEFs HIV/
AIDS programme. Under the programme, sex workers
have access to condoms, health services, counseling
and education on HIV/AIDS. o
Continued from page 1
A group of Chakma children at Belaichari, Rangamati
MY StoRY
a daY IN YuSEFS
lIFE
today the teacher has treated the children to
shingaras for lunch. usually, Yusef and Smaile would
return to the market to beg for food.
after lunch the boys return to the harbour to look
for work. on a good day they will find some work
carrying bags or boxes. then, until dark the boys sell
fresh water on the boats at the harbour. they take
turns on the boats ferrying passengers up and down
the Buriganga River. the boys work about six hours
a day to earn between 50 and 60 taka. the day ends
as darkness creeps in, and the boys return to their
beds on the pier for a few hours sleep before it all
starts again the next day.
Yusef admits his life is difficult but he has big plans
for his future. Yusef and Smaile are in the process of
moving permanently into a uNIcEF-supported drop-
in centre. at the drop-in centre the boys can sleep,
eat, continue their informal education and, most
importantly for Yusef, receive vocational training.
I want to train as a garment maker. I want to earn
money and buy a house. I want to get married and
have my own family. When I have a house I would
welcome my parents to live with me. When I leave
this earth I want to have something to pass on to my
child.
Full of high hopes and driven with ambition, Yusef is
determined to create a better life, for himself and his
family. o
Continued from page 5

K
i
r
o
n
/
U
N
I
C
E
F
16
N E W S I N B R I E F
uNI cEF Ba n g l a d e s h Ne ws l e t t e r
To subcribe or unsubcribe to this newsletter, please
email: infobangladesh@unicef.org
UNICEF Bangladesh
Sheraton Hotel Annex Building
1, Minto Road, Dhaka 1000, Bangladesh
For more info
about UNICEF Bangladesh,
or to download this newsletter,
please visit our website:
www.unicef.org.bd
1
the State of the
Worlds
children 2009
the Bangla version of the State of
the Worlds children 2009 report
was launched in dhaka on 27
January 2009. the report contains
a range of global and country
specifc data on the situation of
children. the theme of this years
report is maternal and newborn
health, a critical area of focus for
Bangladesh in its effort to reach
Millennium development Goals 4
and 5. the report presents analysis
of various factors contributing
to maternal and neonatal death
and examines the best practices
for reducing mortality rates. It
also emphasizes the importance
of supportive environments for
maternal and newborn heath, the
establishment of a continuum of
care through strengthened health
systems and the importance of
identifying and addressing the risks
and opportunities for improved
health among mothers and babies.
case studies and examples from
Bangladesh feature in the report.
3
Bangladesh introduces new vaccine
to prevent severe forms of child
pneumonia and meningitis
Four million Bangladeshi children will be vaccinated
annually with a new combination vaccine to protect them
against fve killer diseases including, for the frst time, the
deadly bacterium haemophilus infuenzae type b (Hib)
that causes severe forms of pneumonia and meningitis.
the new combination vaccine will protect children
against hib, diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis and
hepatitis B.
Every year, hib is estimated to cause millions of serious
illnesses and 40,000 deaths globally, the majority
of them among children under fve years of age. In
Bangladesh, it is estimated that 24% of under-fve child
deaths is due to pneumonia.
the vaccine will be provided under the routine
immunization programme on a regular basis. as
Bangladesh records high routine immunization coverage,
it is estimated that hib vaccine can save about 20,000
childrens lives annually.
2
cricket stars visit
centre for drug
users to raise aIdS
awareness
Bangladesh cricket captain
Mohammad ashraful,
International cricket council
(Icc) General Manager,
david Richardson, and three
other famous cricketers from
Zimbabwe and Bangladesh
stopped by a drop-in centre for
children battling drug addiction
and, in some cases, hIV/aIdS
on 11 January to show their
support. the visit was part of a
global effort by the cricketers to
promote the power of providing
information about hIV treatment
and prevention to young people
at risk.
under its hIV/aIdS prevention
project in Bangladesh, uNIcEF
has been supporting 146 drop-in
centres throughout the country
that provide help to over 100,000
young people and adults.
about 751 drug users regularly
attend the Naya Bazaar drop-
in centre, which is run by the
non-governmental organization
CARE Bangladesh with fnancial
and technical support from
uNIcEF. More than 50 of them
are living with hIV. Most are
victims of discrimination and
receive little help elsewhere.
the cricketers listened
attentively to the young peoples
stories, and cautioned them
against sharing syringes, which
is one of the major causes of
hIV transmission in Bangladesh.
among drug users in dhaka,
the hIV prevalence rate is
estimated at up to 10 per cent,
compared to the less than 1 per
cent prevalence in the general
population.
Mr. ashraful, who is a
uNIcEF Bangladesh Goodwill
ambassador, had encouraging
words for the young addicts.
the visit was organized by
uNIcEF, in partnership with the
Icc and the Bangladesh cricket
Board, for the unite for children,
unite against aIdS campaign.
4
Bangladeshi children shine at
International Film Festival

Over 100 feature, animated and short flms were
screened across dhaka from 24-29 January
as part of the 2nd International childrens Film
Festival of Bangladesh. uNIcEF sponsored the
festival, which provided a unique opportunity for
the children of dhaka to experience the best of
world cinema for children.
cinema suitable for children is a rarity in
Bangladesh, where movie halls tend to screen flms
with adult themes, high levels of violence and low
production values. the 2nd International childrens
Film Festival seeks to improve access to childrens
cinema and awareness of flmmaking for children.
A range of short and feature Bangladeshi flms
were a highlight of the festival. Films from 16
countries were screened during the festival. Five
children were awarded prizes for the quality of the
flms they produced.