Law Event
Making human rights defenders
Mohammad Golam Sarwar
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Photo: NHRC,BD |
Protection and promotion of Human rights involve relationships among individuals, and between individuals and the state. For this, the practical task of protecting and promoting human rights is primarily a national one, for which each State must be responsible. At the national level, rights can be best protected through adequate legislation, an independent judiciary, the enactment and enforcement of individual safeguards and remedies, and the establishment of independent institution responsible for the protection and promotion of human rights. In this context, the establishment of statutory independent National Human Rights Commission of Bangladesh reflects the state's commitment for the protection and promotion of human rights in Bangladesh where human rights violation is a common phenomenon. During its journey being a new one, the commission has already drafted its 5 years strategic plan where it has identified Human rights promotion, education and awareness as one of the three major areas where the commission would like to concentrate its effort in the coming years. The commission aims to develop a human rights culture throughout the country. In doing so, the commission believes that- only legal awareness is not enough; rights based awareness is needed. To create a Human Rights culture throughout the country, the first requirement is to plan Human Rights Education activities to enhance the capacity of the commission as well as of the human rights actors. Secondly, it is needed to take comprehensive activities for public awareness.
On part of this, the NHRC organized a two day long Human Rights Training for Dhaka based Human Rights Defenders on 16th and 17th November with the support of the Bangladesh National Human Rights Commission Capacity Development Project of UNDP. The training sessions included interactive lecture, presenting paper, group exercise and presentation. Participants of the training included Ngo activists, social activists, Journalists and students. The training was oriented to facilitate a cohort of defenders with a sound understanding on human rights concept, responsibility and protection mechanism of the HRDs, mandate and role of the NHRC so that they can raise awareness and draw attention of the public to human rights issues and the role of the NHRC. The orientation of this training highlighted on the foremost aspect of the protection and promotion of human rights that talks about the creation of awareness among common people in such a standard so that they can make responsible the government.
The two day long training course was inaugurated by Prof.Dr.Mizanur Rahman, Chairman, and National Human Rights Commission of Bangladesh. In his speech, he emphasized about the role of human rights defenders to create awareness among mass people through the dissemination of human rights knowledge and norms which would facilitate to establish a society where people's dignity is respected.
To attain a society where human rights culture exists, we have not only conceive the idea of rights and duties but to utilize them in a given situation. To make change in the society, we have to be pro-active as well as reactive, he added.
By two days training it is not possible to learn all human rights aspect and contribute for the protection of human rights as well, for that after the completion of this training, the Commission plans to develop regular dialogue sessions with this group of defenders to professionalize their work and advocate for the improvement of State protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms, Dr. Rahman said.
During two days training speakers at different sessions focused on basic understanding of human rights, National Human Rights Institution like NHRC in Bangladesh along with its mandate and functional periphery.
The NHRC's mandate is extremely broad. It has to act across the full range of human rights set out in the constitution and ratified international human rights instrument. The mandate also includes human rights monitoring, investigation, research, reporting and policy development for which the Commission has already made a strategic plan, Seikh Abdul Ahad, Secretary, NHRC said in an open discussion.
At the end of all formal sessions certificates were given to the participants followed by formal closing session conducted by Kazi Reazul Haque, Full time member, NHRC.
The writer is working with Law Desk, The Daily Star.
