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Street children’s right to sport
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A seminar held in Bangladesh explored the right of street children to sport and play, looking at the opportunities and challenges.

Sport is a human right, and the state should provide the opportunity and facilities for all to participate in it. This includes street children, and a seminar held on 9 April in Bangladesh explored the challenges in extending this right to this demographic.

The seminar, titled “Street Children’s Right to Sports is Right to Life,” was held at the Bangladesh Institute of Law and International Affairs (BILIA) in Dhanmodi, and was organized by Sports for Hope and Independence (SHI) Bangladesh and Empowerment through Law of the Common People (ELCOP).

Tapas Kanti Baul, Executive Director of ELCOP, presented a paper examining the connection between sport and life for street children. He noted that in 2015, there were 1.5 million street children in Bangladesh, and they have been invisibilized from almost all facets of society. Looking at various national and international charters and documents, including the Olympic Charter, the European Charter, UNESCO Charter of Physical Education and the Constitution of Bangladesh, he found lacunae in these instruments, which leave out street children. He ended his presentation by calling for the inclusion of street children in the national budget.

Pappu Modak from SHI presented findings from the organization’s research which found that 85% of street children were addicted to drugs and subject to regular abuse. He noted that sports can help build the universal value of respect and assist these children in making more friends. He criticized the cut in the national budget for the sports sector and the inactivity of the Sports Ministry with regards to street children. Some of the challenges for sports activities for street children he found were the lack of open spaces, the lack of equipment and the ongoing financial crisis in the country.

Sports commentator Rabiul Islam spoke about the lack of applicability of the preamble of the UN Charter, while also noting that many sportspersons have been brought up in the streets. He spoke about the need to raise our voices in support of street children’s right to sport.

Dr Leanne O’Leary, a senior lecturer in Law at Edge Hill University in the UK, referred to a 2008 South African study to highlight the emotional support needed by street children. Referencing the Olympic movement and charter, she said that the charter fails to consider street children and make appropriate concessions for them – since the charter only binds to those mentioned within it, street children fall through the cracks.

Sports journalist Utpal Shuvro opined that the right to pay is not just for street children but for all humans. He pointed out that around 82% of Bangladeshis are not involved in sports, complaining how playing fields are often occupied and commenting on how many schools do not have appropriate playing facilities. He mentioned that Bangladesh must look at the Brazilian model of providing sport to underprivileged children.

Dr Mizanur Rahman, Chaiman of ELCOP and former Chairman of the National Human Rights Commission served as the chair of the seminar. He noted that there are many kinds of discriminations, but the discrimination against street children is not often discussed. He said that change does not come by itself – power must be confronted with power. By proper utilization of existing resources, he reckoned that Bangladesh would be able to appropriately deal with developmental issues and ensure the proper distribution of wealth in society.

This article has been edited by the Operating Team

Authors

Co Founder and Head of Sports Development