Community participation a must to protect human rights

Cultural personality Asaduzzaman Nur MP addressing seminar on "The role of community participation to protect human rights violation" held at the DBLM auditorium at Nilphamari. Officials, professional groups, NGO representatives and members of the elite attended the day long workshop. PHOTO: STAR

This was stated by speakers at a seminar on 'The role of Community Participation to Prevent Human Rights Violation in Bangladesh', held on Sunday at the Danish Bangladesh Leprocy Mission (DBLM) auditorium here.

It was organised by a local NGO, Udoy Onkur Seba Sangstha (USS) in cooperation with a Dhaka-based NGO Manobik Sahaijjo Sangstha (MSS) and the USAID.

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Noted cultural personality and local lawmaker Asaduzzaman Noor inaugurated the seminar.

Presided over by USS Executive Director Alauddin Ali, it was addressed by, among others, MSS Programme Co-ordinator Anik Asad, Nilphamari District Union Parishad Samity President Md Shahajahan Chowdhury, Press Club President Fazlur Rahman and Social Welfare Officer Joynal Abedin.

Staff Correspondent of the national Bangla daily Sangbad Aminul Islam presented the keynote paper.

All the speakers agreed that motivation programme on human right at grassroots level is essential to protect human rights. Only community participation can do that.

At least 50 major incidents of human rights violation took place in the district in last one year, they said. Poverty is not the only cause. Lack of awareness, education and inability in availing legal facilities are also responsible.

In his inaugural speech, Asaduzzaman Noor said it is very difficult to establish human rights without political consciousness and change in social system.

Lack of awareness about law on human rights among grassroots level people is also a major obstacle.

"Poor people who are the worst victims of human rights violation must know where to go, how to seek help and what are the laws", Noor said.

The MSS programme co-ordinator said his organisation has taken up a two-year Human Rights Educational Programme to provide information to grassroots level people. The programme is being implemented in 210 unions in 35 upazilas in 15 districts including Nilphamari.

A total of 750 community leaders will be trained under the programme in the first phase.

In the second phase, Human Rights Watch Groups comprising local people and professional group will be formed. The groups will monitor human rights in their respective areas and help the victims seek legal protection, he said.