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

INCIDIN has established two night shelters for boys in Dhaka city, near the Kumlapur
Railway Station where many children congregate. The shelters provide food, a bed and
bathing facilities, as well as emergency health services. During the day they operate as dropin
centres, providing psychological support, health care, non-formal education, legal aid and
life skills training. This project is unique in South Asia for its focus on reducing child sexual
abuse and preventing boys’ entry into prostitution by providing safe night shelter and working
to empower the boys through participation in shelter activities. Children participate in the
shelter’s operation and in planning, implementing, monitoring and evaluating the project,
including evaluation of staff. Through group meetings, the children establish their own rules
for shelter operation and make decisions about shelter maintenance, such as paint colours and
repairs.
Outreach workers play a major role in linking the children with the services of the
shelters/drop-in centres. They go to the railway platforms and other places where boys living
on the street congregate to build rapport with them. When an outreach worker meets a boy
who appears to be in trauma from abuse, he refers him to the shelter and informs the
counsellor. No boy is obliged to explain his motivation for entering the centre, and INCIDIN
does not distinguish between boys being engaged in prostitution, sexually abused or simply
living on the street. To avoid abuse of younger boys by older boys, only boys below 14 years
are allowed inside the night shelter, although all may use the facility during the day.
Aparajeyo Bangladesh operates drop-in centres, with optional night shelter, for girls and boys
of the street in downtown Dhaka. The centres are open, and children can come and go as they
please. As well as providing a venue for socializing with each other and finding adult
protection, the drop-in centres also provide professional counselling, non-formal education,
recreation and medical assistance. A ‘savings bank’ operated by the children teaches them to
manage their finances. The staff conducts case management activities to plan and guide the
children’s care and social integration. Aparajeyo also trains and mobilizes former children of
the street as peer outreach workers. Called child motivators, these children live in hostels and
receive a small remuneration. NGO staff and child motivators identify newly arrived children
at railway and bus stations and provide them with information and referral to services.
Bandhu Social Welfare Society provides information on HIV and sexually transmitted
infections and services for males who have sex with males in urban areas of Bangladesh. The
organization addresses both adult males and boys. Services are provided through drop-in
centres operated by peers and are directed at both males working in prostitution and the men
and boys who engage them. Awareness and training activities teach boys and men strategies
to protect themselves from sexual and physical violence, negotiate sexual activity and learn
safe sex practices.
4.4.6 Addressing exploitation in pornography
Based on the information gathered for this report, there have been no focused activities in
Bangladesh to address the exposure of children to pornography or the use of children in the
production of child pornography.
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