At Save the Children in Bangladesh, Child Rights Governance (CRG) is one of our core thematic areas. We tackle the fundamental, systemic issues that prevent children from realizing their rights. By fostering inclusive and responsive governance and championing better allocation and use of public funds, we create the lasting conditions essential for the sustainable progress of children's rights.Our key priorities within CRG include empowering children to actively monitor and demand their rights, promoting good governance through child-friendly local systems and child-centered social accountability, and ensuring vital investment in children by involving them in accountable budgeting processes and advocating for national budgets that truly respond to their needs.

Children have the right to participate and be heard on the matters that affect their present and future. We support the National Children’s Task Force (NCTF) as a space where they can express themselves and their observations hold power. The task force collaborates with children, youth, parents, civil society organizations, district authorities, local governments, and policymakers to promote children's rights at the district level. We amplify children’s voices to empower them to advocate for causes they believe in while informing processes and influencing policies. NCTF generates data-driven solutions that make local authorities accountable for existing laws and government plans on children’s welfare and engages stakeholders to ensure that children remain a priority. 

Our support has fortified connections with local stakeholders, including teachers, journalists, parents, community leaders, elected representatives, youth, social workers, and government officials. This engagement promotes consistent participation in activities that foster children's rights at the local level. When children lobby decision-makers, inform processes, and influence policies, they can campaign for the causes they believe in. With this consideration, we have pushed NTCF members to advocate for children’s rights in government meetings and committees.

We engage in modifying or introducing institutions or regulations that create lasting change. It led us to support the district administration in issuing a letter that forms the NCTF school committees to prevent child marriage in Manikganj. NCTF engaged more than 10,000 children, including those from marginalized groups, and approximately 5,000 adults were directly involved in the program. The center also conducted 79 monitoring visits to assess children’s rights and organized 32 dialogue sessions with local authorities. Our work to engage local authorities included three police stations in Meherpur, where they will now provide round-the-clock child services. Grassroots engagement has led to the prevention of 10 child marriages and has collaboratively conducted awareness campaigns on gender-based violence for 2,280 people across 24 districts.