Project Background:

In the present socio-economic context, violation of human rights, particularly the rights of the women and children are common phenomena in rural Bangladesh. The rural women are the severe victims of exploitation, oppression and extortion in the country. Although the women of the rural community work hard from early morning till late evening, but they, in most cases, do not get any economic benefit out of it. They do not get recognition of their hard work. They are very much dependent on their husbands or male counter parts. They are the regular victims of social evils like dowry, early marriage, divorce, polygamy etc., and are completely ignorant about the CEDAW, CRC and other human rights issues. The people of the rural community in Balipara Union is not different from the scenario mentioned above. The UP Chairman, Members, Secretary, Dofader and Chowkiders were unaware of the roles, responsibilities and services of the Union Parishad (Union Council). The local elected bodies (LEBs) were also ignorant about the CEDAW, CRC and other human rights issues. Birth registration of newborn child was irregular. Moreover, early marriage, polygamy, women extortion, non-registration of marriages were the common practices in the area. The UP administration was also reluctant about all these issues. Considering all these problems DDJ started “Consultations for Strengthening Advocacy for Human Rights Promotion” project under Small Grants Program of the World Bank Dhaka Office.

Duration: July 2003 to June 2004.

Area Coverage: Zianagar upazila of Pirojpur district.

Source of Funding: World Bank Dhaka Office, Bangladesh.

The Project Goal: Aware the community people on human rights and its violation to get rid of social evils.

Objective of the Project: To strengthening advocacy capacity for promotion of human rights in Balipara union through awareness raising and practicing various aspects of the UP management & administration, birth registration, marriage registration and death registration; eradicating social evils like early marriage, dowry, polygamy and women and child oppression/extortion, and as such, ensuring registration of all births, marriages and deaths.

Project Participants: The project participants were the Local Elected Bodies (LEBs) i.e. UP Chairman & Members, UP Secretary, Dofader & Chowkiders, members of the civil society groups such as Imams, teachers, elite persons, adolescent girls group leaders, school and Madrasha students, association/group leaders including the members of the female groups.

Major Interventions:

Conduct training, workshop, seminar, discussion and mobilization sessions in the locality regarding the human rights issues.