DHAKA: The prize giving ceremony for the online photo contest “Click For Her Rights” on prevention of child marriage, adolescent pregnancy and violence against women was held at a city hotel on Monday.  

Addressing the event, Argentina Matavel Piccin, UNFPA Representative, Bangladesh said, “This event is part of UNFPA’s creative initiative to celebrate and disseminate UNFPA’s Mandate on prevention of girl child marriage, adolescent pregnancy and gender based violence.”

She added: “Because we know that a picture is worth a thousand words! We chose social media and with a special focus on youth as because ¼th of total population are youth. It aims to raise awareness and bring about positive behavioral changes in prevention of girl child marriage and gender based violence engaging young generation.”  

Matavel also said uouth can act as change agents for elimination of child marriage, early pregnancy and VAW through using and building nationwide a network. Their potential and volunteer engagement will make an impact in the change of existing practice in the society.

Ganesh Chandra Sarker, Director General, Directorate of Family Planning said “This photo contest is meant to involve people on this issues which are happening every day in our life, I want to mention here that we have achieved a lot but still long way to go. In Asia Bangladesh is the first for Adolescent Pregnancy and globally we are third. So, we have to take necessary action to give the right to girls and women. Because when a baby having a baby, it has lot of consequences, low birth weight of baby, anemic, and fistula.”

In the event, Tariq-Ul-Islam, Secretary, Ministry of Women and Children Affairs said, “According to the 2011 Bangladesh Demographic and Health Survey, 87% of Bangladeshi women and girls experience gender-based violence in their lifetime and 64% girls are getting marriage before the age of 18.”

BDST: 1950 HRS, FEB 10, 2014