SEXUAL ABUSE AND EXPLOITATION OF BOYS IN SOUTH ASIA A ...

children living on the street. In its advocacy activities INCIDIN works closely with the
children’s organization Child Brigade, which advocates for the rights and protection of
children living on the street in Bangladesh. Urban grass-roots advocacy has led to formation
of a committee in central Dhaka to protect the rights of children living on the street.
Comprised of ward commissioners, local businesspeople and members of school management
committees, the organization has developed a child rights forum of children living on the
street. It has also conducted child leadership activities in which young activists organize
children of the street, collect information about the violation of their rights, identify key
issues for advocacy and sensitize other children on their rights.
Bangladesh Institute of Theatre Arts conducts innovative awareness-raising activities through
street theatre. The group brings awareness of trafficking and sexual exploitation of girls and
boys to the village level by training and mobilizing local street theatre groups throughout the
country. Nijeki Jano (Know Yourself) adolescent communication kits have been developed
by UNICEF and a consultative group funded by Save the Children. The kits have been
distributed in non-formal education settings, in which children discuss sexual abuse,
trafficking and sexual health, among other issues.
Peer activities and youth groups have been effective in raising awareness among young
people. The NGO Association for Community Development in Rajshahi district mobilizes
adolescent boy and girl groups to discuss gender, trafficking, child sexual abuse, reproductive
health and other issues. Through its extensive grass-roots links, the organization has also
mobilized adult volunteer advocates to reach out to vulnerable children and children engaged
in commercial sexual exploitation. The organization has links with the police (who bring
abused children for protection to the association’s shelter home) and local politicians. It has
also established socialization centres where community members can interact with volunteers
and discuss issues and solutions to abuse and exploitation.
The Empowerment of Children in Need of Special Protection project, supported by Save the
Children Australia, was started in 1998 to address children living on the street, in slums and
in brothels and other children at risk of abuse and exploitation. The project strengthens the
children’s ability to protect themselves by providing life skills training and awareness on
reproductive health, children’s rights and gender issues. The project has worked to build the
capacity of counterpart NGOs in five districts to conduct life skills and awareness activities
for vulnerable children, primarily girls, and to create a network to protect boys and girls from
sexual abuse and exploitation.
4.4.5 Prevention through outreach to vulnerable boys
Drop-in centres are an effective mechanism for providing prevention and support activities
for sexually abused and exploited boys, including those living on the street and engaged in
prostitution. Drop-in centres can reach children with a variety of services, including crisis
response, health care, counselling, non-formal education, life skills training and vocational
training.
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