UNICEF has expressed deep concern over the tragic loss of children's lives and widespread human rights violations during the political unrest in Bangladesh between July and August, referring to the violence as "heartbreaking." The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) raised the alarm following the release of a report by the UN Office of Human Rights, which documented over 1,400 deaths between July 1 and August 15, including more than a hundred children. UNICEF has been working to determine the exact number of children affected, and has already reported several of these deaths.

In a statement sent to the media, Rana Flowers, UNICEF's representative in Bangladesh, extended condolences to the families of the victims. She highlighted the tragic incidents where children had either been killed, severely injured, or subjected to abuse during the unrest. According to the report, children were caught in the crossfire, with many being targeted directly through violence, arbitrary detention, and even torture.

"Among the most heart-wrenching incidents, one occurred in Dhaka's Dhanmondi, where a 12-year-old protester died of internal bleeding after being hit by metal pellets. Another tragic event occurred in Narayanganj, where a six-year-old girl was shot in the head while watching the protests from the rooftop of her home. On August 5, a 12-year-old boy from Azimpur witnessed police firing indiscriminately, describing the gunfire as 'raining down everywhere.' He reported seeing at least a dozen dead bodies that day," said Flowers in the statement.

Flowers stressed that these incidents are not only a grave concern but also a stark reminder of the urgent need for accountability and reform to ensure that children are no longer subjected to such violence. UNICEF called on all people in Bangladesh to take collective responsibility to prevent any future recurrence of such tragic events.

In light of the findings, UNICEF has called on Bangladesh's policymakers, political leaders, and officials to work together to help children and families recover both physically and mentally from the damage caused by the violence. They urged authorities to support children and youth to heal and move forward with hope.

UNICEF has outlined three key areas for immediate action:

1. Accountability for the deaths of children and their grieving families: Ensuring accountability and taking effective action to prevent future occurrences.
2. Rehabilitation and justice for those still detained and impacted by the events: Working collectively for the rehabilitation and justice for those whose lives have been affected by the violence.
3. Transforming this period into an opportunity for positive change: Encouraging all political leaders and policymakers to unite for reforming the police and judicial system to prevent any future cases of extrajudicial detention and violence against peaceful protesters, particularly children.

UNICEF has also called for the following measures to assist with accountability and reform:

1. Independent investigations to ensure justice for children subjected to violence, abuse, and illegal detention.
2. Reform of the justice system to align with international standards and ensure that children's rights to protection are prioritized in the legal framework.
3. Establishing strong protection systems through independent monitoring and observation mechanisms to prevent future violations of children's rights.
4. Ensuring fair justice systems for children, recognizing their needs for protection, care, and rehabilitation rather than criminalization.
5. Exploring alternatives to detention for children found guilty of committing crimes, offering diversion programs, probation, and rehabilitation-focused justice.
6. Sensitive legal processes that include special courts, legal aid, and child-sensitive investigation procedures for children.
7. Accountability measures to ensure justice for child victims, safeguarding their rights and preventing future violations.

UNICEF further emphasized that Bangladesh is at a pivotal point of change, with the opportunity to create a safer and more just environment for the younger generation. The reform commissions that are currently working to restructure the police, courts, and the justice system are creating the potential for a safer, more just future for children and youth in the country.

The organization concludes its statement by urging all political leaders, stakeholders, and the government to act swiftly and comprehensively to ensure that such violations do not happen again, and that children in Bangladesh can grow up in a peaceful, secure environment, free from violence and fear.