Opportunities for Agency and Social Participation among Child Domestic Workers in Bangladesh

Abstract

*Focus on South and Central Asia | Research Articles

With the emergence of a global concept of childhood based on the 1989 United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child there has been a growing interest in increasing children’s participation in society. This paper explores the legal, political, institutional, and cultural context for child participation in Bangladesh where marginalized children, such as child domestic workers, are still largely left out of the participation process. Opportunities are very limited for child domestic workers to make their own decisions regarding matters such as choosing employers, working hours, schooling, marriage, and how to spend their own salaries. Factors that limit their participation include cultural attitudes, workloads, and lack of suitable educational programs. Increasing the participation of child domestic workers in society, and helping them to find their own agency in matters affecting their lives will require a comprehensive effort to be made in many sectors and on many scales.