The Ministry of Women and Children Affairs is planning to launch a smartphone app to protect women and children against violence and abuse.

If feeling threatened, the user can click a button on the app, “Joy: an ICT tool to resist violence against women and children”, instantly sending an SMS to law enforcers and relatives.

Noting the location and taking continuous photos on the front and back cameras, the app, if there is an internet connection, will send those to law enforcers' servers.

State Minister Meher Afroze Chumki yesterday informed of the plan while describing different activities of the ministry at a press briefing in the capital's Department of Women Affairs.

Secretary Nasima Begum said the app's experimental release would be in the last week of June for users of Tongi, Keraniganj and Jessore and it might be officially released on August 8 after the difficulties and outcomes have been analysed.

The ministry will propose allowing internet for the app free of charge, she said.

Dr Abul Hossain, project director of Multi-Sectoral Programme on Violence Against Women at the ministry, said they were providing 467 street children from Karwan Bazar and Kamalapur a place to stay and three meals a day.

This project will be launched all over country soon, he said, adding that 5,882 women of 64 districts were trained on computing on the 2015-2016 fiscal year to ensure employment. Moreover, he said the ministry established a 24-hour help centre for women and children, JOYEETA Foundation (an organisation for female micro-entrepreneurs), a hostel for female garment workers, 44 daycare centres for children, and Kishor-Kishori Club (a platform to create awareness for teenage girls).