THE WORLD STOPS FOR GAZA
No work, No school

7^th April 2025

Bangladesh students join global campaign in solidarity with Palestine

 

Educational institutions across Bangladesh are observing an academic and administrative shutdown as students protest Israel’s continued attacks on Palestine. Several student organizations have also announced protest rallies and marches to take place later in the day.

The "No work, no school" campaign began on Monday after student groups and general students declared they would boycott classes and exams in solidarity with global protests, including those in New York, against Israeli aggression in Gaza. Many educational institutions have since voiced their support for the initiative.

From around 10am, students and staff in Dhaka and other parts of the country gathered on their campuses, chanting slogans and holding demonstrations.

In a show of support for the global student movement protesting Israel’s actions in Gaza, The Volunteers (Students) of Participatory Human Rights Advancement Society has joined the global campaign on the 7^th April 2025 in solidarity with Palestine.

    

 

Beijing +30: Upholding Commitments in Section J on

“Women and the Media”

  

  

Global Alliance on Media & Gender (GAMAG), March 3, 2025.  Communication rights – particularly those of women and marginalized groups – are under severe threat worldwide.

This year, 2025, marks the 30th anniversary of the Beijing Platform for Action.  Section J of this landmark gender policy blueprint enshrined commitments to increase women’s participation in media decision-making, promote balanced and non-stereotypical portrayals of women, and ensure women’s access to and use of communication technologies.

Commitments made in Beijing are under attack. One driver is the rise of far-right governments and conservative movements across the globe, offline and online. A second is the increasing hostility towards gender equality evident in statements and actions by the current political administration in the United States of America. Nation states, the private sector and other entities are backpedaling on promises to advance and uphold women’s rights and gender equality. Action to address the escalating threats is urgently required.

There is clear evidence of a systematic erasure of the right to freedom of expression of many groups, including women and critical media and civil society leaders. Fear of funding cuts and attacks by emboldened hate groups are forcing many into self-censorship. Organizational communication and websites are being sanitized of language on equality and human rights, among other social justice concerns. Misogyny is gaining traction as progress on equality is rolled back. Abrupt cuts in development funding have dire consequences for women’s rights programs around the world, including initiatives to advance communication rights.

The inclusion of gender equality in media policies, self-regulation and legislation remains weak across most countries despite the commitments made in Beijing three decades ago. In view of recent political developments across the world, including and especially in the USA, media in many places are now expected to abandon gender equity language and goals. This may well mean making the challenge of uprooting sexist stereotypes in media portrayal of women even more difficult than it is at present. It may mean less coverage of violations of women’s rights and gender equality.  Barriers to success in implementing the Beijing commitments relevant to media are numerous, including a growing gender digital divide within and across countries, the unchecked spread of technology-facilitated gender-based violence, male dominance in media ownership and leadership, as well as gender biases in the constantly evolving communication technologies, with Artificial Intelligence being the latest in the series.

If the current status quo is left unchallenged, the likely outcomes are clear: 30 years after Beijing, progress towards gender equality will be reversed. The clock will turn back on advancement towards fair and balanced media representation free of sexist stereotypes, equality in media decision-making, freedom of expression and equitable participation in information and communication technologies, as well as a guaranteed life free of violence for women in the digital space.

It is therefore important to urgently reaffirm and underline the importance of Section J, and to defend the principles enshrined in it.

We call on individuals, organizations, and governments to: 

      i.         Ensure that women-led civil society organizations have the resources and support they need to continue their work. 

    ii.         Resist the erasure of gender equality and equity language from public discourse and hold media accountable for perpetuating harmful stereotypes.

  iii.         Defend media freedom and the rights of journalists, particularly women, to work without fear of retaliation.

   iv.         Speak out against policies and decisions that threaten women’s rights and freedom of expression everywhere and across all media. 

In solidarity with Global Alliance on Media & Gender (GAMAG), Participatory Human Rights Advancement Society has signed this Statement on March, 2025.

 

    

       

  

                      

The 5th ASEM Forum on the

Human Rights of Older Persons: Present and Future

Unmasking Ageism: Cultural Realities, Systemic Barriers, and the Case for Change

 

20 August 2025

Somerset Palace Seoul, Republic of Korea

Co-organized by ASEM Global Ageing Center (AGAC),

National Human Rights Commission of Korea (NHRCK), and

Delegation of the European Union to the Republic of Korea

 

Overview

The 5th ASEM Forum on the Human Rights of Older Persons, under the theme “Unmasking Ageism: Cultural Realities, Systemic Barriers, and the Case for Change,” seeks to foster cross- regional dialogue to deepen understanding of ageism and its root causes. It also aims to share practical insights, policy innovation, and foster shifts in social attitudes and perceptions toward ageing. Through three thematic sessions, the forum will explore the historical and normative origins of ageism, present tools and data to assess its ramifications across key sectors, and highlight practical strategies to advance an age-inclusive society.

 

Background

As global populations experience unprecedented increases in longevity, the average life expectancy worldwide reached 73.3 years in 2024. Projections indicate that by 2054, the proportion of individuals aged 65 and over will nearly double – from 17 percent to 33 percent.

While this demographic transformation is frequently framed as one of the most pressing challenges confronting contemporary societies, it also constitutes a profound testament to human progress – reflecting advances in public health, medical science, and socioeconomic development. Ageing should not be understood solely as a demographic phenomenon; rather, it is a universal and continuous process that encapsulates the complexity and heterogeneity of human life. It is shaped by cultural norms, social values, and institutional structures, and it intersects with fundamental principles of equity, justice, and human rights. The critical question is not the fact of ageing itself, but how societies conceptualize and engage with the ageing process. The term ageism, first introduced in 1969 by Robert N. Butler - renowned as a pioneer in the field of gerontology - denotes a dual construct: (1) a socially produced set of negative attitudes, stereotypes, and assumptions about older persons and the ageing process; and (2) a structural predisposition to design policies, environments, and institutions around a presumed norm of youthfulness, thereby systematically marginalizing the needs and contributions of older populations. Ageism manifests in attitudinal, behavioral, and institutional forms. Despite its pervasiveness, it remains one of the most insidious and under recognized forms of systematic bias in both global and local contexts. The World Health Organization (WHO)’s Global Report on Ageism (2021) reveals that nearly half of the global population holds ageist attitudes. These attitudes have measurable impacts on the health, well-being, and safety of older persons. Ageism increases the risk of exclusion, neglect, and abuse, thereby generating substantial social and economic costs. In this regard, tackling ageism is central to ensuring not only the recognition but the fulfillment of rights, dignity, and participation for people of all ages. The global health crisis of COVID-19 pandemic brought structural ageism into sharp relief. In many countries, assumptions about older persons’ vulnerability led to discriminatory practices. In Asia, public health measures such as self-isolation guidelines and mobility restrictions—though well-intentioned and rooted in cultural norms of protection—often undermined older persons’ autonomy and exacerbated their isolation. In Europe, age-based triage protocols revealed explicit and disturbing forms of age discrimination. Surveys show that one in three Europeans experienced age-based discrimination during the pandemic, with Eastern Europe demonstrating higher rates than other parts of the region. The hashtag #Boomer Remover starkly illustrates the ageist narratives that emerged during this time. These examples highlight how crises can intensify existing prejudices—demonstrating the urgent need for inclusive, age-conscious discourse that challenge structural bias and safeguards the dignity of older persons in times of crisis. Ageism has become a defining issue of our time, demanding urgent global attention. Over the past decades, global discourse on ageing has shifted from viewing older persons primarily as recipients of welfare to recognizing them as full rights-holders. This transformation was driven in part by the growing visibility of structural age-based exclusion across employment, healthcare, and legal systems, and was formalized through major international milestones.

The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development commits to “leaving no one behind,” explicitly including older persons. Both the Madrid International Plan of Action on Ageing and the Decade of Healthy Ageing (2021–2030) call for structural reforms to ensure full inclusion and participation. The WHO’s Report on Ageing and Health (2016) and Global Report on

Ageism (2021) jointly identify ageism as a global barrier to health and dignity, calling for action through law, education, and intergenerational contact interventions. Moreover, the recent development of the WHO Ageism Scale, a tool designed to evaluate the effectiveness of interventions aimed at reducing ageism, further underscores the importance of an evidence- based approach. In parallel, the UN Human Rights Council emphasized that older persons have historically remained at the margins of international human rights frameworks, prompting the appointment of a dedicated Independent Expert.

 

At the cultural and regional levels, rapid population ageing has also triggered a shift in how ageism is understood and discussed. East Asian societies, often shaped by Confucian traditions that emphasize respect for elders, are no exception. Despite enduring cultural values such as filial piety, rapid demographic change, urbanization, and the breakdown of extended family structures have exposed new forms of marginalization affecting older persons. These developments challenge the assumption that collectivist cultures tend to be inherently resistant to ageism and highlight the need for more context-sensitive, cross- cultural approaches to understanding its roots and persistence. To effectively address ageism, it must be recognized as a multidimensional phenomenon that shapes how individuals experience ageing throughout their lives. Ageism intersects with other forms of inequality, such as those based on gender, disability, or socioeconomic status. These intersections are not static; they accumulate and compound, shaping each person’s experience of ageing in unique and unequal ways. Given this complexity, ageism must be examined through an intersectional and life-course lens—one that examines how structural inequalities and personal histories converge across the lifespan. Only through such a multidimensional approach can we develop truly inclusive policies and narratives that respect the diversity of ageing experiences.

Building on the recognition of ageism’s complexity, a shift toward rights-based and age- inclusive frameworks is essential to drive meaningful and lasting reform. This shift entails reframing public discourse, reforming institutional structures, and embedding age sensitivity across all levels of governance. Rather than settling for symbolic gestures of inclusion, efforts must aim for structural transformation that fully realizes and upholds the human rights of older persons.

Importantly, ageism affects not only today’s older persons but individuals of all ages, shaping how we perceive ageing and envision our future selves. It influences societal norms, institutional practices, and personal expectations throughout the life course. Challenging ageism, therefore, is not only a matter of justice for older persons; it is a long-term investment in creating societies where everyone can thrive at every stage of life. A rights-based, age-inclusive approach is not merely a policy option; it is a societal imperative. It requires reframing public discourse, reforming institutions, and embedding age-sensitivity into governance at every level. In this broader context, ASEM Global Ageing Center (AGAC) serves as a regional connector, policy catalyst, and collaborative platform. AGAC fosters dialogue and cooperation between Asia and Europe to advance rights-based and age-inclusive approaches. It supports governments and stakeholders in mainstreaming age-sensitive perspectives, challenging negative stereotypes, and fostering a more empowering and positive vision for ageing. To further this mission, AGAC is convening the 5th ASEM Forum on the Human Rights of Older Persons: Present and Future, under the theme “Unmasking Ageism: Cultural Realities, Systemic Barriers, and the Case for Change.” The theme highlights the Forum’s commitment to bring to light the often-overlooked nature of ageism—exposing how it is woven into cultural narratives, institutional frameworks, and policy structures across societies. At a time when ageism continues to shape policies, perceptions, and lived experiences worldwide, challenging its hold is both a moral imperative and a strategic necessity. In response to this critical challenge, the Forum offers a vital platform for cross-regional dialogue—enabling stakeholders to exchange insights, confront entrenched challenges, and co-develop strategies that are culturally rooted yet anchored in universal principles. By connecting normative, institutional, and lived dimensions of ageing, the Forum advances a shared vision: to build inclusive societies in which older persons are not left behind, but recognized as essential contributors to social cohesion, development, and shared prosperity.

 

Session Details

 

The Forum will be structured around three interrelated sessions, each addressing a key dimension of ageism. Each session will be moderated and will feature three presentations, followed by a professional panel discussion (with one to two panelists) and an open Q&A segment.

 

Session 1. Understanding Ageism across Cultures: Historical, Normative, and Rights-based Perspectives This session explores how ageism has evolved as a deeply rooted form of social bias—shaped over time by historical transformations, cultural narratives, and institutional norms across different societies. Drawing on comparative perspectives from Asia and Europe, it examines how perceptions of ageing have shifted—from roles of respect and authority to experiences of marginalization and dependency—under the influence of industrialization, modernization, and changing family structures. The session also investigates how ageism takes distinct forms across regional contexts, reflecting tensions between traditional values and evolving socio- economic realities. By analyzing both philosophical and legal dimensions of age-based discrimination, it highlights the importance of culturally sensitive, rights-based responses and calls for a reframing of public discourse and policy to promote more age-inclusive societies.

 

Session 2. Evidence-based Approach to Ageism: Global Evidence and Sectoral Realities in Health Care and Employment Building on the cultural and structural roots of ageism explored in Session 1, this session underscores the growing need for reliable tools to measure ageism and assess its impact across societies. Drawing on recent advances—most notably the launch of the WHO Ageism Scale in 2025—it emphasizes the value of evidence-based approaches to understanding how age-based bias operates across different levels and settings. With a particular focus on the health and employment sectors, participants will examine how both structural and implicit forms of ageism affect older persons’ access to care, autonomy in the workplace, and broader socioeconomic inclusion. By exploring region-specific data and comparative insights from Asia and Europe, the session aims to identify pathways for translating measurement into actionable, age-inclusive policy action.

 

Session 3. From Awareness to Action: Strategies for Combatting Ageism Building on the insights from previous sessions, this discussion will explore how increasing awareness of ageism can be translated into effective and sustainable action. Framed by global efforts such as the Decade of Healthy Ageing and guided by the WHO Global Report on Ageism (2021), the session will examine three key pathways for change: policy and legal reform, educational initiatives, and intergenerational engagement. Participants will share good practices, legislative models, and public engagement strategies that have proven effective across diverse cultural and institutional contexts. The session will also identify opportunities to advance collaborative action at the ASEM level, with the aim of fostering rights-based, age- inclusive societies across Asia and Europe.

 

The Participatory Human Rights Advancement Society was joined the 5th ASEM Forum on the Human Rights of Older Persons virtually to actively engage in cross-regional dialogue on ageism and its underlying causes. By participating, the Society aims to contribute to the exchange of practical insights and policy innovations, enhance its understanding of the historical and systemic factors shaping age-related discrimination, and explore effective strategies for promoting an inclusive society. This virtual participation also allows the Society to collaborate with international stakeholders, strengthen advocacy efforts, and support the advancement of human rights for older persons globally.

For more information on the Forum, please visit the Website at http://www.asemgac.org/

 

 

 

 

URGENT APPEAL TO STOP RATION CUTS & ENSURE

ADEQUATE FOOD SUPPORT FOR ROHINGYA COMMUNITY

 

 

As of March 5, 2025, the World Food Programme announced a drastic reduction in monthly food rations for Rohingya refugees, cutting the amount from $12.50 to $6 per person due to ongoing funding shortages. This reduction comes at a time when the aid provided is already insufficient. In 2024, Bangladesh had a 57% funding gap to address humanitarian needs. This threatens to worsen hunger and malnutrition among over a million Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh, who are living in highly challenging conditions, vulnerable to natural disasters and other shocks and hazards. They are entirely reliant on humanitarian aid for their basic needs, as Rohingya are not permitted to work legally and even barred from leaving the barbed-wire-enclosed camps.

 

UNICEF reports a 25% surge in severe acute malnutrition cases in Cox’s Bazar in January 2025 compared to January 2024. This increased to 27% in February 2025, marking the highest malnutrition levels since the massive displacement in 2017. At the start of 2025, UNICEF projected that 14,200 children in the Rohingya refugee camps would face severe acute malnutrition this year. Children suffering from this condition are 11 times more likely to die than well-nourished children if they do not receive timely intervention. The current situation, including ongoing reductions in food rations could significantly increase this number. With malnutrition rising at such an alarming rate, sustained humanitarian support is not optional—it is essential. Already in 2023, WFP was forced to reduce rations from $12 to $8 per person per month due to severe funding constraints, leading to a sharp decline in food consumption. While rations were later increased with additional funding, this new significant cut—particularly for a population that remains among the most vulnerable globally, without legal status, access to sustainable livelihoods, and often the first to face aid reductions—will further deepen food insecurity, increase malnutrition, heighten health risks, and create social instability within the already overcrowded camps, exacerbating human rights violations. Both in Bangladesh and globally, the Rohingya refugees are enduring unimaginable hardships, fleeing persecution and violence in their homeland. Access to adequate food is not just a basic necessity but a fundamental human right, for all. The international community has a responsibility to ensure their food security, uphold their dignity, and protect their rights as enshrined in global human rights frameworks.

Demands of the Petition

1. We urge the United Nations World Food Program to uphold the full range of human rights for the Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh.

2. We call on the United Nations to address the funding gap of the WFP to restore full food rations and essential services for the Rohingya refugees, we appeal for the development of short and long-term comprehensive funding commitments to meet the food and nutrition needs of the Rohingyas until a safe and dignified repatriation to their homeland is possible.

We trust in your leadership to galvanize global support and address this critical humanitarian crisis.

"Everyone has the right to a standard of living adequate for the health and well-being of himself and of his family, including food, clothing, housing and medical care and necessary social services, and the right to security in the event of unemployment, sickness, disability, widowhood, old age or other lack of livelihood in circumstances beyond his control."

 

 

Universal Declaration of Human Rights 1948 Article 25(1)

As on 13 March, 2025 Petition Appealed By: Bangladesh Food Security Network- KHANI to H.E Mr. António Guterres Secretary-General United Nations New York, NY 10017; United States  and Copy to : Dr. Muhammad Yunus; Honorable Chief Adviser of the People's Republic of Bangladesh Cindy H. McCain, Executive Director of the World Food Programme

 

In solidarity with, Bangladesh Food Security Network- KHANI, Participatory Human Rights Advancement Society has signed the petition.

 

LINK OF THE SIGNED PETITION:

 https://drive.google.com/file/d/13f_5kNbUnFK9tWnYoEScDDhNCaqttokv/view?usp=sharing

 

 

 

Understanding PMNCH Partner Needs in a Time of Global Disruption

PMNCH Partner Survey 2025

By 17 September, 2025

 

In light of growing geopolitical instability, funding constraints, and increasing pushback against sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR), and women’s, children’s and adolescents’ health (WCAH) more broadly, PMNCH is seeking to better understand how these intersecting issues are impacting your organization, one of our 1,500+ partners, and your advocacy and accountability efforts . This short survey is to seek feedback from PMNCH members and will inform our collective action to uphold WCAH in times of crisis.

 

PMNCH are all mindful of the incredibly challenging fiscal and geopolitical environment which development and public health organizations are facing.  Resources are uncertain and the policy environment is becoming increasingly contested, therefore compounding challenges at global, regional, national levels.  PMNCH have therefore developed a partner survey to better understand the individual challenges our partner organizations are facing, so that PMNCH can identify ways of supporting partners most effectively, enabling us all to deliver on women’s, children’s and adolescents health and well-being.

Participatory Human Rights Advancement Society has participated in the PMNCH partner survey, because it’s a valuable opportunity to make our voice heard and ensure our organization’s realities and challenges are understood at the global level.  It’s a chance to contribute to a collective response that is informed, inclusive, and grounded in the experiences of those working on the frontlines.

 

The survey can be found here,

 

 

Global Alliance for the Rights of Older People (GAROP) invite all members to vote in a quick online poll to help the Steering Group decide on a new slogan for global rally February, 2026

 

Established in 2011, the Global Alliance for the Rights of Older People was born out of the need to strengthen the rights and voice of older people globally.

Today, GAROP is a network of over 400 members worldwide, united in our work to strengthen and promote the rights of older persons. Our mission is to support and enhance civil society engagement with Member States and National Human Rights Institutions at national, regional and international levels around a convention on the rights of older persons.

 

Global Alliance for the Rights of Older People (GAROP) is planning to organize another Global Rally as part of our Age With Rights campaign.

The next Global Rally will be held between 1^st-7^th February 2026 just ahead of the first organizational meeting of the Intergovernmental Working Group (IGWG) that will draft a new UN convention. 

GAROP’s previous Global Rally campaigns have mobilized thousands of people, created vital momentum and profile at key advocacy moments, and helped build political will for our cause. GAROP encourages to plan what activities partner organization may be able to organize in support of the Rally in February.

Agreeing a new campaign slogan The GAROP Steering Group has been discussing a new campaign slogan to accompany 'Age with Rights', but to focus specifically on raising awareness and support for the upcoming UN convention drafting process.

Ideally the new slogan would capture both the need for a strong UN convention text alongside the importance of the meaningful participation of older persons and having an equal seat at the table. The slogan should also ideally be easy to translate.

The Steering Group considered a longer list of options and has shortlisted three, each with different strengths.

Global Alliance for the Rights of Older People welcome members' input to this process and invite us as a member to respond to the online voting poll and in solidarity with GAROP, Participatory Human Rights Advancement Society has voted the poll for a new campaign slogan.  

 

UNGC Stakeholder Survey

The United Nations Global Compact send an invitation on Mar 7, 2025 with the support of the Boston Consulting Group, is undertaking a strategic planning process to shape our five-year strategy for the period 2026–2030. As part of this effort, The United Nations Global Compact seeking valuable insights from all stakeholders to help guide their priorities and actions.

The link of the survey: Stakeholder Survey vF

 

 

 

Soil Filling for Community Road Development in

Residential Housing Complex

The soil filling work involves utilizing excess excavated earth generated from construction activities within the residential housing complex for the improvement of the adjacent community road. The process ensures sustainable reuse of available resources while contributing to local infrastructure development.

The scope of work includes:

• Collection and Transportation: Excavated soil is collected and transported to the designated community road area using dump trucks or other suitable vehicles.
• Spreading and Leveling: The soil is evenly spread along the identified stretch of the community road to raise and strengthen the existing surface. Proper grading is carried out to maintain uniform levels and ensure adequate drainage.
• Compaction: Mechanical compaction is performed in layers to increase soil stability, minimize settlement, and provide a solid base for future surfacing or road enhancements.
• Finishing: The filled surface is trimmed and dressed to the required slope and camber, ensuring smooth alignment with the existing road.

This initiative not only enhances connectivity for the surrounding community but also reduces construction waste by repurposing soil on-site. It provides a cost-effective and environmentally responsible solution that benefits both the housing complex and neighboring residents.

Impact of the Soil Filling Program on the Community Road

The soil filling program has created positive impacts for both the residential housing complex and the surrounding community.

1.    Improved Accessibility:
The community road, which previously suffered from uneven surfaces and poor usability during the rainy season, is now more stable and easier to navigate for pedestrians, cyclists, and vehicles.

2.    Enhanced Community Connectivity:
Better road conditions strengthen social and economic ties by improving access to schools, markets, healthcare facilities, and workplaces for local residents.

3.    Sustainable Resource Utilization:
By reusing excavated soil from the construction project, the initiative reduced waste, minimized disposal costs, and demonstrated an environmentally responsible approach to construction.

4.    Cost-Effective Development:
The use of readily available soil lowered expenses compared to sourcing new filling materials, making the program efficient and beneficial for both the housing authority and the community.

5.    Community Goodwill and Cooperation:
The project fostered goodwill between the residential complex and local residents, as it directly addressed a shared need and showed a commitment to community development.

6.    Foundation for Future Upgrades:
The filled and compacted road provides a strong base that can later be improved with gravel, brick soling, or pavement, ensuring long-term benefits.

"Empower the Youth, Say No to Drugs, Yes to Life."

Youth Awareness & Advocacy Program against Drug Abuse

 

 

Program Overview:

The Youth Awareness & Advocacy Program against Drug Abuse is our regular program. An initiative designed to educate, empower, and engage young people in the fight against drug misuse and addiction. The program promotes healthy lifestyles, builds resilience, and equips youth with the knowledge and skills needed to make informed choices and resist peer pressure.

 

Objectives:

1.    Awareness: Increase understanding of the harmful effects of drug abuse on health, family, education, and community.

2.    Advocacy: Encourage young leaders to speak up, raise their voices, and become champions of a drug-free society.

3.    Prevention: Provide training, workshops, and peer support systems to reduce risk factors and promote positive alternatives.

4.    Engagement: Involve schools, communities, and families in collective action against drug use.

 

Key Activities:

• Interactive workshops, seminars, and school talks.
• Peer mentoring and youth ambassador training.
• Awareness campaigns using posters, social media, and street plays.
• Sports, arts, and cultural activities as healthy alternatives to drug use.
• Collaboration with health professionals and local organizations for counseling and support services.

 

Expected Outcomes:

• Increased knowledge among youth about the dangers of drug abuse.
• Strengthened peer and community support systems.
• Youth empowered to advocate for a drug-free environment.
• Reduced stigma around seeking help and rehabilitation.

 

Impact of the Program:

The program has created a lasting positive effect on both individual participants and the wider community. Young people who attended gained not only knowledge about the risks of drug abuse but also practical skills to resist peer pressure and make healthier lifestyle choices. Through workshops, peer mentoring, and advocacy activities, many participants became role models in their schools and neighborhoods, spreading awareness to others.

The community engagement aspect encouraged parents, teachers, and local leaders to actively support youth in building a safe, drug-free environment. Awareness campaigns and creative activities such as art, sports, and cultural events offered young people meaningful alternatives, reducing their vulnerability to harmful influences. As a result, the program has strengthened the collective resolve to combat drug misuse, inspired youth leadership, and promoted healthier, more resilient communities.

 

Conclusion:

The Youth Awareness & Advocacy Program against Drug Abuse demonstrates that empowering young people with knowledge, skills, and a platform for advocacy is one of the most effective strategies to address the challenge of drug abuse. By combining education, prevention, and community engagement, the program has built a strong foundation for sustained action.

Moving forward, continued collaboration with schools, families, and community organizations will ensure that the message of a drug-free life is reinforced and expanded. This initiative has proven that when youth are engaged as leaders and advocates, they become powerful agents of change—capable of shaping a healthier and brighter future for themselves and society.

 

Empowering Youth through Holistic Madrasa Education

By Establishing Ongoing Charity

Madrasa Program on the 23^rd Dec, 2023

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     

 

 

Objectives:

Our programs planned and carried out by educationalists and individuals from across the sector to help attendees gain a better understanding of topics, allowing them cultural insights from different perspectives and the knowledge of any world view outside their own. We center our recreational activities on developing and enhancing social development which will helps create new friendships and solidify old ones. The experiences we provide are certain to create lifelong memories .Our focus is for young people between the ages of 8-18, though we can sometimes accommodate age groups outside of this age bracket.

Providing Holistic Experiences:

We are a community grassroots organization that aims to provide unique learning experiences to meet the challenges of society. Our aims to provide a holistic experience with a wide range of activities to assist in the development of each young people’s path in life so that they are well equipped to meet the challenges of their chosen path as they engage with the local and wider community. Our Mission is to make them confident and productive members of society.

Core Objectives:

• To provide young people social education.
• To empower young people.
• To increase the self-esteem of young people.
• To develop young people into confident members of society to enable them to benefit the wider community.
• To develop an awareness within the community regarding important issues affecting young people and their families.
• To encourage healthy-living, physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually
• To introduce young people to positive role models.

 

Activities:

Activities held in the past have included, contemporary issues, Drugs workshop, Careers advice, Sirah (Life of Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon Him), Aqidah (Beliefs), Nasheed performance (Islamic songs) and many more. 

 Careers advice and workshops

 Wellbeing workshops

 Talk to someone sessions

 Community consultation sessions

 Volunteering opportunities

 

Persian poet Rumi said, “The beauty you see in me is a reflection of you.”

 

Impact of the Program:

Our program has had a profound and lasting impact on the lives of the young people we engage with, as well as the wider community. By offering holistic, inclusive, and culturally sensitive educational and recreational experiences, we have empowered participants aged 8–18 to grow into confident, self-aware, and socially responsible individuals.

Through a diverse range of workshops, community-based activities, and opportunities for self-expression, we have helped young people gain a deeper understanding of themselves, their heritage, and the world around them. Our focus on social education, wellbeing, and cultural awareness has not only enhanced personal growth but also encouraged empathy, respect for diversity, and open-mindedness among participants.

The program has seen significant outcomes, including:

• Increased self-esteem and confidence, with young people reporting greater belief in their abilities and potential.
• Improved emotional and mental wellbeing, fostered through dedicated sessions on health, support, and mindfulness.
• Stronger social connections, as our recreational activities promote teamwork, friendship, and community cohesion.
• Empowerment through knowledge, with participants becoming more informed about contemporary issues, career pathways, and their spiritual and cultural identities.
• Enhanced community engagement, as young people and their families become more aware of and responsive to issues affecting their lives, and are connected to resources and role models that support positive growth.

Our work continues to build bridges across cultural, generational, and social divides, reinforcing our commitment to shaping the next generation into confident, compassionate, and productive members of society.

 

 

Conclusion: A community-based Madrasa program designed to provide holistic education and social support for youth primarily aged 8 to 18. By integrating cultural insights with recreational activities, the initiative seeks to foster self-esteem and equip participants with the tools to become productive members of society. The program offers a diverse range of services, including career workshops, spiritual guidance, and mental health support to address the contemporary challenges facing young people. Through these efforts, the organization has successfully improved community cohesion and empowered students to develop a stronger sense of identity and responsibility. Ultimately, the mission centers on nurturing well-rounded individuals who can contribute positively to their local and global environment.

Completition Ceromony

of Handbook Discussion Project on

Declaration of Peace and cesation  of the War

(DPCW)

 

The Declaration of Peace and Cessation of War (DPCW) to be implemented as international law to achieve true peace across the globe. Then, we will be able to leave a world of peace as a lasting legacy to our children. This is a shared goal of humanity and the way to realize sustainable peace that mankind has been hoping for.

All of us have imagined ourselves living in peace and harmony, we all want a world where there is no war, no racism, no terrorism and no violence. If one bad thing happens in one area of the world then it has its side effects in other parts of the world too. This planet is facing so many problems right now that it is difficult for one country to solve them. For example, we cannot prevent global warming alone, we cannot prevent wastage of natural resources on this planet alone, we cannot prevent war alone; however, if all the countries cooperate together with peace and unity then we can reverse this destruction of our planet. It is high time that effective measures should be taken before it is too late. United Nations should take serious steps to prevent this destruction and promote world peace.

There should be equal distribution of resources and modern equipment between developed and non-developed countries.

There are many countries where education system is very poor. Instead of investing money in weapons, the well-developed countries should focus on ending this misery of those poor countries. This will promote world peace.

The main reason that leads to violence in the world is dictatorship. When people have the freedom to vote and choose right leaders who are also interested in world peace, only then we can achieve world peace.

World peace can also be achieved when globalization is encouraged between countries. When countries will have economic ties between them then they will avoid getting into fights that will affect their economic relationship.  It needs grasping the necessity for cooperation, and the necessity to function on the basis of an understanding that the Earth is a single system, and humankind is a single whole.

 

Eco-Plogging

On May 9,  40 people of the Participatory Human Rights Advancement Society(PHRAS) members of IPYG (International Peace Youth Group) affiliated with HWPL(Heavenly Culture, World Peace, Restoration of Light / International NGO) held the 'Eco-Plogging' event twice as a challenge activity to solve environmental problems in Dhaka. The plogging is a compound word between 'plocka upp(In Swedish)', which means “picking up grains” and jogging(In English). It refers to the activity of picking up trash while jogging.

That is why the young people directly participated in this campaign as a part of an environmental clean-up movement.

In order to continue the sustainable campaign, we need more young people to actively engage in activities and the interest of local people.

 

 

Cleaning Up Your Community

 

Vacant lots and public lands can become dumping grounds, too. Cleaning these areas up has many benefits: You’re protecting animals, fish, birds, and plant life from the risks that the trash brings, and you’re also sending a message to other people that someone cares about this piece of water or land that it’s not a place to dump their unwanted items.

Community cleanup activities have a social benefit, too: You’re out with your community, finding like-minded people and possibly making great friends. That’s why projects such as these are excellent for everyone - families, single people, and groups of friends or coworkers. Prolific litter in underserved communities and neighborhoods can misrepresent the area and contribute to health risks and low levels of self-image. 

 

 

Volunteer Awareness Program on "Sustainable Development Goals" through Amusement

In 2015, the United Nations (UN) addressed the problems of communities and identified the global problems for development under 17 goals within the "Sustainable Development Goals". The UN member states are expected to take steps to achieve these goals in academic and applied fields each year in order to overcome these problems and achieve their goals until 2030. In this respect, the willingness of individuals to voluntary participation in efforts towards development goals guarantees social participation, deepens solidarity, and strengthens ownership of social and economic development goals. The presence of the volunteer projects is allowed the volunteers can take part in content creation and organization. In addition to that, the purpose of the voluntary projects that individuals participate in during their leisure time was to provide social benefits and to create voluntary recreational activities for the goals of acquiring intangible gains. The role of voluntary recreational activities within the UN 2030 Sustainable Development Goals was determined by revealing the importance and place of these activities in the context of these goals

 

 ANNUAL IFTAR EVENT TO ADDRESS ISSUES OF

MARGINALIZED COMMUNITIES

 Background:

The iftar event provided an opportunity for everyone present to break their fast together and share a meal. The event was filled with positive energy, and the community youths shared their experiences with the guests. It was heartwarming to see the smiles and their excitement. The annual iftar event is just one of the many initiatives that Participatory Human Rights Advancement Society undertakes to bring attention to the issues; the annual iftar event brought together people from different walks of life to make a positive impact in the lives of community youths. Participatory Human Rights Advancement Society is committed to continuing its  mission to empower community youths. Young people are an integral part of our community. As the next generation, they have the power to make incredible changes that bring about a kinder and more compassionate society. But our communities first need spaces that give our youth the opportunities to make these changes. Safe, welcoming spaces where young people feel safe to speak out and have their concerns validated. Where young people have the support they need to feel empowered by their decisions and have avenues to give back to their community in positive ways. The Importance of Supporting Our Youth Today The young people of our community have the capacity to make incredible changes. That’s why it’s important that our communities allow our youth to grow in skills and knowledge that not only bring them success in their inner circle but also allow them to connect with and inspire people more broadly. And it’s through this encouragement and support from everyone in the community that our youth become inspired to lead ongoing initiatives that enrich humanity and set a positive example for future generations to come.

 Impact:

Participatory Human Rights Advancement Society hosted its annual iftar event. The event brought together internal and external stakeholders, and well-wishers to share the spirit of Ramadan. The annual iftar event is flagship event that seeks to provide a platform for stakeholders to interact with the community youths, learn about their experiences, and develop a better understanding of the issues affecting marginalized communities. The iftar event provided an opportunity for everyone present to break their fast together and share a meal. The event was filled with positive energy, and the community youths shared their experiences with the guests. It was heartwarming to see the smiles and their excitement. The annual iftar event brought together people from different walks of life to make a positive impact in the lives of community youths.

Conclusion: 

Its concluded that, as a result of the complex nature of human beings and their communities, it is logical that there can be no single most effective method for all people of all times and places. Participatory Human Rights Advancement Society is committed to continuing its mission to empower community youths. The event is being developed and delivered by local young people and is open to young people from all cultural backgrounds to increase understanding, tolerance and reduce racism

An Open Letter to the United Nations General Assembly’s Open-Ended Working Group on Ageing for the Purpose of Strengthening the Protection of the Human Rights of Older Persons (OEWGA)

 

Background

As human rights advocates from different backgrounds and regions of the world, we want a world where we can all age with rights, dignity and respect. The OEWGA can help to make this vision a reality by fulfilling its mandate to consider proposals for an international legal instrument to promote and protect the rights and dignity of older persons and to present to the UN General Assembly a proposal containing the main elements of such instrument.

Since its creation in 2010, the OEWGA has held 11 working sessions. Throughout these discussions, the OEWGA has seen a wealth of evidence confirming the glaring deficiencies in the international human rights system as it relates to the human rights of older persons. This material has been presented by older persons themselves, experts from the UN system, civil society organizations, academia, governments, and national human rights institutions, who are also calling for the adoption of a convention to address these shortcomings.

The study launched by the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights in the 11th session confirms that the development of more specific norms and standards within a new dedicated international instrument is required to ensure that no older person, regardless of circumstance, is left behind.

Despite this evidence in support of a UN convention and the further impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, the OEWGA has made little concrete progress towards identifying the elements of a possible new instrument and has not yet fulfilled its mandate in this regard. While there are many Member States which have actively supported a convention, the lack of consensus has prevented clear outcomes from the OEWGA.

While we recognize the importance of consensus and the need to continue to build this in the OEWGA, we also note that 146 States formally supported the Secretary General’s Policy Brief on the impact of COVID-19 on older persons and committed to fully promoting and respecting the dignity and rights of older persons. This is a strong foundation from which the OEWGA must now seek to move forward.

A new UN convention would explicitly and unambiguously recognize older persons as rights holders and strengthen our understanding of human rights in older age. It would provide valuable guidance for governments and others to ensure that age discrimination is prohibited in the law, services uphold the dignity of older persons, and attitudes and behaviors towards older persons are respectful.

The OEWGA Bureau, chaired by the Permanent Mission of Argentina since the OEWGA’s first session, is in a pivotal position to drive progress in this work. Thus, we call on the Bureau to take concrete steps to progress the work of the OEWGA in the inter-sessional period between the 11th and 12th sessions of OEWGA and we call on Member States to support the Bureau in taking those steps.

Recommendations for next steps

We support the proposal made by Argentina in the 11th session to establish an intersessional group to advance the work of the OEWGA. This group should be composed of experts from member states, civil society organizations, and national human rights institutions, with the involvement of the UN Independent Expert on the enjoyment of all human rights by older persons as well as other relevant experts among the UN human rights mechanisms and special procedures mandate holders. This group should be tasked to commence the drafting of the main normative elements of an international legal instrument during the inter-sessional period.

We believe that the OEWGA will greatly benefit from commencing the drafting of a proposed binding instrument without delay in an open and inclusive platform that places the participation of older persons, their knowledge, expertise and experiences at the centre of discussions.

The 12th session of OEWGA presents the Bureau with opportunities to take concrete steps. To advance a critical discussion of the adequacy of the normative framework of the international human rights system and its implementation mechanisms for the promotion and protection of the rights of older persons, the Bureau should include in the agenda of the 12th session a substantive discussion of the OHCHR’s analytical paper. Also, in moving forward, the Bureau should present a proposal containing a program and the modalities for the drafting of a new instrument to start no later than six months after 12th session of OEWGA.

We call on the Bureau to take up these recommendations and urge Member States, particularly the members of the Group of Friends of Older Persons, to engage actively in with the process to bring about these outcomes.

It has been a decade since the OEWGA commenced its work. The need to fulfill the OEWGA’s mandate has never been more urgent if we want to build the just and equal world we need for older persons today and for all generations to come.

We submit this open letter to the Bureau and to Member States of the UN as an expression of our steadfast commitment to assist in the fulfillment of OEWGA’s mandate. In this inter-sessional period leading to the 12th session of OEWGA, we will continue to seek and build opportunities for formal and informal spaces for constructive discourse, including following up on these recommendations and call to action.

 

Raising Awareness Against Coronavirus (COVID-19)

A novel coronavirus (nCoV) is a new respiratory virus that has not been previously identified in humans. It was first reported in Wuhan,China in December 2019.

Participatory Human Rights Advancement Society raising awareness with its small effort among its community people and volunteers and its online platforms.

About coronaviruses

Coronavirus are a large family of viruses. Some cause illness in people and others causeillness in animals. Human coronaviruses are common and are typically associated with mild illnesses, similar to the common cold.

COVID-19 is a new disease that has not been previously identified in humans. Rarely,animal coronaviruses can infect people, and more rarely, these can then spread from person to person through close contact.

There have been 2 other specific coronaviruses that have spread from animals tohumans and which have caused severe illness in humans. These are the:

1.    Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS CoV)

2.    Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS CoV)

 

Physical distancing (Social distancing):

Means keeping a distance of at least two metres from others at all times.

 

Everyone needs to practice

physical distancing (Social Distancing)

 

 

Bangladesh Government has already taken necessary actions and measures on time and fighting against Coronavirus (COVID-19) To prevent all the people of the country with all efforts.

 

হাত ধোয়ার সঠিক নিয়ম শিখে নিন আর দেখান আপনার বন্ধুদের

 

Novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV)

 

How to protect yourself and others

“WHAT IS HUMAN RIGHTS”

MEET THE COMMUNITY YOUTHS

 

 

Background:  Enhance the knowledge and understanding of human rights. Foster attitudes of tolerance, respect, solidarity, and responsibility. Develop awareness of how human rights can be translated into social and political reality.Raising awareness and having discussions with youth about human rights and access to justice, the dialogues also sought to explore potential opportunities for greater collaboration and in the advancement of human rights Participatory Human Rights Advancement Society organized the event on 31 December,2019.

Our Purpose: The purpose of Youth for Human Rights International is to teach youth about human rights, specifically the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and inspire them to become valuable advocates for tolerance and peace.

“We are here because we know that literacy is the key to unlocking the cage of human misery; the key to delivering the potential of every human being; the key to opening up a future of freedom and hope. We are here to open a decade that must translate that hope into reality.” —Kofi Annan, Former Secretary-General, United Nations.

Conclusion: As Kofi Annan has stated: “Human rights education is much more than a lesson in schools or a theme for a day; it is a process to equip people with the tools they need to live lives of security and dignity”

 

Community Football Match

Of

Participatory Human Rights Advancement Society

 

PHRAS Volunteers Football Match

 

To achieve our goal of bringing about peace and inspire a culture of greater understanding throughout communities,we’re engaging with community leaders. Young Ambassador Training is a local community initiative that uses football to connect young people from differentfaiths, cultures and backgrounds and get them to communicate, play together and learn to confront stereotypes and better understand one another.

Develop and activate 'Peace Matches' and 'Community Tournaments' in order to raise awareness of issues that exist in communities. Bring together different people, communities into one team,creating a unified team to play against our footballers for peace team.

Participatory Human Rights Advancement Society has always tried to arrange this type of matches. Together we can makea brighter and enlighten society.The event was organized The15th October, 2019 on the occasion  of Participatory Human Rights Advancement Society's 11th Birth Anniversary. 

 

The World Peace Summit in Bangladesh on The 12 September, 2019 

 

 

 

Mohibul Hassan Chowdhoury, Deputy Minister from the Ministry of Education who attended on behalf of the Minister gave the reply for the students and deliver the importance of leaving the peace legacy to future generations and signed the supporting letter fot the DPCW.

Alhajj Shamsuddin Bhuiyan Sentu, Mayor of South Dhaka, Saiful Islam, Executive Editor of Boishakhi TV and Zahidul Islam, Executive Producer of BTV made the speech to appeal for the supporting the DPCW.

Jisu Kim, vice director of Busan Western Branch of HWPL and Robert Jeon, general director of Busan Western Branch of HWPL,

Dr. Mahbubur Rahman Mollah, Principal of Shamsul Hoque Khan School and College a speech at the event to raise students’ awareness and necessity of peace education.

The peace letters also written by the students in Bangladesh will be delivered to the President, the Prime Minister, the Speaker of Parliament and Chief of Justice, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Minister of law.

Only those who take the lead in changing the world are called heroes. Heroes make history and create change in the world. So, let us all became heroes of peace.

 

 

Group meeting of HWPL Bangladesh Chapter’s event organizers

 

Let us all become heroes of peace and create a world of peace together.

This work of peace is not only for today. We must not stop until a world of peace is complete. Let us use the Legislate Peace campaign, the Peace Letter campaign, and any other means possible to create a world of peace.

 

Participatory Human Rights Advancement Society actively joined and helps to organize the event successfully. Since we have the answer to peace, if we become united as one, we can achieve world peace. We are one!

 

Empowering Women through Cattle Ownership

Empowering Women through Cattle Ownership_Badarganj Rangpur

 

Background: The empowerment of women in the livestock sector is fundamental to achieve gender equality. It also is instrumental for increased household productivity and improved household health and nutrition. Diverse strategies exist to empower women, yet these strategies are difficult to prioritize without a reliable and adapted means to measure women’s empowerment

Empowerment in livestock through specific activities—rather than through livestock keeping overall—seems more appropriate to obtain quality information. Notably, livestock farming provides specific gendered challenges and opportunities, with implications for the empowerment of all farmers, their household food security, and the security of their livelihoods. Livestock are a strategic entry point to enhance the nutrition of the poor given that livestock provide nutrient-rich foods, such as milk or meat, which are shown to improve growth and cognitive functioning, respectively. Women have a central role in most countries as food producers and providers and control livestock products that are essential for food and nutrition security. Also, women represent the majority of poor livestock keepers. On these bases, supporting the empowerment of women involved in the livestock sector.

Therefore, developing a measure to capture the empowerment of women involved in the livestock sector is important to explore how livestock and women’s empowerment inter-connect, and particularly, how women’s empowerment can be supported through livestock

Women play an important role in agricultural growth in developing countries, but face persistent obstacles and societal and economic constraints that limit their further inclusion in agriculture. A renewed interest in agriculture as a vehicle for inclusive growth and for potentially empowering women has highlighted the need to develop indicators to measure women’s empowerment and to monitor the impact of interventions to empower women. 

Conclusion: Women are key actors within the agriculture and food system in Bangladesh. As the 2013 National Agricultural Policy of Bangladesh recognises, empowering women, encouraging their participation in production and marketing for income generation, and ensuring their nutritional status are vital for improving food security in the country (MoA 2013). Women’s economic and social advancement are also stated goals of the Ministry Women and Children Affairs (MoWCA).  However, about 77 per cent of rural women in Bangladesh are disempowered, as this study shows using the Women’s Empowerment in Agriculture Index (WEAI) and the data from the 2012 Bangladesh Integrated Household Survey. Participatory Human Rights Advancement Society strongly believe that, “Women are key actors within the agriculture and food system in Bangladesh”. So our organization always try to "Empower Women".

 

Signature in support of the

Declaration of Peace and Cessation of the War (DPCW)

 

Heavenly Culture, World Peace, Restoration of Light (HWPL), an international peace organization with branches in 170 countries, was founded for global peace and cessation of war. Also, it is a non-governmental organization in Special Consultative Status with the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) and associated with the UN Department of Global Communications (DGC) and the Seoul Metropolitan Government. With the mission to achieve global peace through the heavenly culture and restore the world with light, HWPL is carrying out its peace movement around the globe, working with its partner, the International Women’s Peace Group (IWPG), and its affiliate organization, the International Peace Youth Group (IPYG). Moreover, leaders of different countries are cooperating as the HWPL Peace Advisory Council, and experts from all walks of life are active as HWPL Publicity Ambassadors.

HWPL’s peace movement will leave for future generations the greatest legacy—life instead of death and permanent peace instead of endless wars.

Since its foundation in 2013, HWPL has grown exponentially in terms of both supporters and influence worldwide. With peace as its core value, HWPL has operated a number of campaigns and events across the globe to unite individuals from all sectors and levels within society. Within only a few short years, HWPL has partnered with citizens and organizations from over a hundred countries in order to advocate peace on an international scale, particularly through the advocacy campaigns for an international law based on the Declaration of Peace and Cessation of War (DPCW). Through the hosting of annual events, such as the World Alliance of Religion’ Peace(WARP) Summit and the Peace Walks commemorating the Declaration of World Peace, HWPL continues to gather additional support from individuals, civil society actors, national leaders, religious leaders, and others under the common goal of a world free of war and conflict. As more people are being awakened to this era of peace, the light of peace has continually brightened and spread like the first glimmers of dawn transforming into the full light of day. When the world unites with a single heart for peace under the values of heavenly culture that transcend divisive boundaries between communities, the flower of peace will soon bloom and peace will be left as a legacy to future generations.

In solidarity with HWPL, Participatory Human Rights Advancement Society has support The Declaration of Peace and Cessation of the War & signed the declaration on 25 May, 2019.

GLOBAL REPORT 2018

National SDG Scorecard May, 2018

 

The National SDG Scorecard is a data collection tool designed to support grassroots-led research on national-levelimplementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The National SDG Scorecard gathers data on:   Grassroots advocates' knowledge of and access to information about theSDGs broadly and Goal 5 on gender equality (SDG5) specifically; Grassroots participation in national-level SDG-related decision-making; National-level,grassroots-led advocacy on SDGs and SDG5 from 2017; and Grassroots organizations' safety when promoting gender equality.  This report presents the perceptions of 114 grassroots groups in 19 countries across five regions of the world. Theyadvocate for gender equality primarily at the local and national levels.

 

Donors and the private sector should invest resources and time in grassroots gender equality advocacy tohold governments accountable to their SDG agreements. In doing so, advocates will gain credibility and be treated as equal partners in SDGimplementation.

Grassroots women's rights organizations are not being included in SDG-related decision-making, nor are the perspectivesof grassroots women and girls. As a result, the needs of women and girls are not being reflected in SDG processes and implementation. Grassroots groups areknowledgeable about the SDGs and are already advocating for their national-level implementation, both individually and in civil societycoalitions, and feel safe doing so. In order to leave no one behind, governments must actively seek to include grassroots women'srights organizations in SDG-related decision- making processes. This will ensure that the needs and priorities of women and girls are included in SDGimplementation processes. Grassroots groups are lacking funding for their advocacy activities related to the SDGs and SDG5 specifically.

Participatory Human Rights Advancement society has joined & participated in this score-card organized by WomenThrive International, USA on May 2018. 

 

Letter to the UN Secretary-General's Special Envoy on Myanmar

Almost a year after hundreds of thousands of Rohingya Muslims were forced to flee their home country into Bangladesh, the challenges of providing assistance to refugees and of addressing violations in Myanmar remain. During the peak of migration out of Myanmar, a key tactic used to drive the Rohingya out of their homes and villages was sexual violence against women and girls.

Representatives of the UN Security Council visited Bangladesh and the Rakhine state of Myanmar to survey the scale of the crisis. In preparation, the Council held an open debate session in April on preventing sexual violence in conflict. Razia Sultana, a human rights activist and lawyer, addressed the Council on the Rohingya situation on behalf of the NGO Working Group on Women, Peace and Security. During her time in New York, she spoke with the International Peace Institute’s Sarah Taylor about her work in the region, relating vivid stories of the brutality suffered by the Rohingya.

In solidarity with The NGO Working Group on Women, Peace and Security Participatory Human Rights Advancement Society has signed the letter to Secretary-General's Special Envoy on Myanmar, Ms. Christine Schraner Burgener.

PepsiCo: No loopholes for Conflict Palm Oil

Under intense international pressure over its continued use of palm oil connected to rainforest destruction, human rights abuses and massive carbonpollution, PepsiCo has released its latest policy response to reform the company’s sprawling palm oil supply chain.

But PepsiCo’s updated policy still falls short of what’s needed to adequately address deforestation and human rights abuses on the ground.Despite five years of investigative reports and massive international consumer outcry, PepsiCo has once again missed an opportunity to truly clean up itscontroversial palm oil supply chain.

Tell PepsiCo to aggressively eliminate Conflict Palm Oil from its supply chain and stop doing business with notorious bad actors.

Participatory Human Rights Advancement Society Has joined the campaign & signed the online petition.

 “Eradicating poverty and leaving no one behind”

E-Discussion on the 2017 ECOSOC Theme

20 Mar - 17 Apr 2017, Coordinated and Organized by the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

 

This e-Discussion being held from 20 March to 17 April 2017, is coordinated and organized by the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

This e-Discussion is on the ECOSOC theme "Eradicating poverty in all its forms and dimensions through promoting sustainable development, expanding opportunities and addressing related challenges."

The purpose of the 2017 ECOSOC electronic discussion (e-Discussion) is to engage stakeholder groups, experts, practitioners and policy-makers from various regions in a global dialogue on specific aspects of the 2017 ECOSOC theme.

BACKGROUND

The Economic and Social Council’s (ECOSOC) work in support of the implementation, follow-up and review of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development includes an annual main theme through which the Council advances the balanced integration of the three dimensions of sustainable development.

The main theme for the 2017 ECOSOC session is “Eradicating poverty in all its forms and dimensions through promoting sustainable development, expanding opportunities and addressing related challenges”. Through this theme, the Council and the whole ECOSOC system will facilitate global engagement in support of poverty eradication, bringing together Governments, the private sector, civil society, the United Nations system and other actors.  The 2017 ECOSOC substantive session will provide policy guidance, elaborate institutional and other requirements, and promote operational support for eradicating poverty.

ECOSOC ensures the alignment of its annual main theme and the corresponding annual theme of the high-level political forum (HLPF) under the auspices of the Council to foster coherence. The 2017 theme of the HLPF is "Eradicating poverty and promoting prosperity in a changing world". The HLPF also discusses a set of Goals and their interlinkages, including, if appropriate, with other Goals, at each session representing the three dimensions of sustainable development. The Goals to be reviewed in 2017 are SDGs 1, 2, 3, 5, 9 and 14.

In support of the 2017 session of ECOSOC, the Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) will convene an e-Discussion on the 2017 ECOSOC main theme. The e-Discussion provides a unique opportunity for the wider development community to formulate critical policy messages and recommendations. Contributions made by e-Discussion participants will be channelled into various parts of ECOSOC, particularly the report of the Secretary-General on the ECOSOC main theme and the deliberations during the High-level Segment of the Council in July.

PURPOSE

The purpose of the 2017 ECOSOC electronic discussion (e-Discussion) is to engage stakeholder groups, experts, practitioners and policy-makers from various regions in a global dialogue on specific aspects of the 2017 ECOSOC theme.

The e-Discussion is expected to provide ECOSOC with ideas, suggestions and recommendations for building synergies for poverty eradication across actions in the economic, social and environmental dimensions. It is also expected to identify diverse strategies that could be taken by countries facing different challenges, as solutions to poverty eradication will vary depending on national contexts.

The e-Discussion will also consider the global landscape, identifying systemic challenges and opportunities that will require greater international cooperation and action. It will also address how the international community, including the General Assembly, ECOSOC the HLPF and other policy making fora, could better support poverty eradication and the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

In this context, and with a view to realizing the 2030 Agenda, the discussion will focus on:

1.    Eradicating poverty and leaving no one behind;

2.    New evidence and innovations in poverty eradication efforts; and

3.    Systemic challenges and opportunities in eradicating poverty.

 

 

ORGANIZATION AND FORMAT

The e-Discussion will take place during a four-week period in March 2017. DESA and UNDP will conceptualize and coordinate the e-Discussion and will provide joint substantive and technical support. UNDP will lend access to its networks and online platform. DESA and UNDP will facilitate outreach through their respective networks, including academia and think-tanks, as well as through contact lists of independent experts and resource persons for inclusion in the discussion. 

The e-Discussion will be organized around a series of interlinked themes of relevance to implementation of the 2030 Agenda vis-à-vis poverty eradication and the transition from commitments to results.  Questions will be formulated for each topic and made available in English, French and Spanish. To focus the discussion, the e-Discussion will consist of three concurrently running thematic windows, each to be led by a selected expert moderator and supported by a shadow facilitator from DESA or UNDP. 

Members of relevant ECOSOC expert committees and subsidiary bodies, such as the Committee for Development Policy, will be invited to contribute through their active engagement in the discussion. The UN Department of Public Information and other stakeholder networks, including from the private sector (e.g., Global Compact) and civil society (e.g., United Nations Non-Governmental Liaison Service (NGLS) and ECOSOC Civil Society Network (CSO-Net)), will be approached to publicize the e-Discussion and promote global participation of relevant stakeholders. 

Upon completion of the e-Discussion, DESA and UNDP will prepare a summary report that: (a) describes the background and structure of the e-Discussion; (b) provides a general overview of participation; and (c) synthesizes key findings, messages and recommendations from participants on each of the topics of discussion.  This summary report will serve as an input into the report of the Secretary-General on the 2017 ECOSOC theme.  It will also be available on the ECOSOC website as a Conference Room Paper (CRP) for the ECOSOC High-level Segment.

STRATEGIC FOCUS

In line with the preparation of the Secretary-General’s report on the ECOSOC theme, the e-Discussion will address the theme in the context of the realization of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development through the following three thematic windows and accompanying indicative questions to guide the discussion. 

 

Shah Tasadduque Ali Khan , Executive Director, Participatory Human Rights Advancement Society, Dhaka, Bangladesh, was Joined the e-discussion & Commented 13 April 2017 on the 2017 ECOSOC Theme “Eradicating poverty and leaving no one behind” Coordinated and Organized by the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

 

Commented on the e discussion forum on the 13 April 2017 on the 2017 ECOSOC Theme “Eradicating poverty and leaving no one behind” is quoted bellow:

"Dear All,

Greetings!!

I would like to thank you all for giving me the opportunity to join & share my views with this discussion. My country is Bangladesh.

There are so many problems in developing countries. We have to face it in present & in future. Problems we face are our reality and wait for help in finding solutions to reduce future risks.

In my point of view I try to highlight the problems.

Population in our country increasing day by day but land not increasing parallel.  They cut the green area specifically the agricultural land by building houses & making unplanned extremely big residential housing projects in different prominent places specifically the capital city as well as district town in the country. This unplanned use of agricultural land will lead to a shortage of agricultural crops in this region. As a result, increasing poverty & population rapidly with decreased agricultural food production.

People have to migrate for searching works in different cities & countries. In many family working people are living abroad for their work and sending foreign remittances for their families in village. Their family has to depend on purchasing everything for their daily family needs. Due to shortage of agriculture land they are not directly involved with agricultural production. Farmers are facing hard crisis for agricultural land for food production and on the other part aristocrat class & landlords has huge lands found in uncultivated, barren or partly cultivated. To eradicate poverty we need kind attention on it. We have to more caring for our poor farmers so that they can be able to find cultivable agricultural land or farmers can get adequate leased  cultivable agricultural land from aristocrat class & landlords for increasing our agricultural production.     

The world population is increasing so very rapidly and cultivable agricultural land is not enough so to eradicate poverty specifically developing countries need special care on highly technologically advanced & sophisticated agricultural production systems.

• 7. 4 billion The world population in 2016.(reference: http://www.prb.org/pdf16/prb-wpds2016-web-2016.pdf )
• 526 Average global population per square kilometer of arable land — 239 in more developed countries, 697 in less developed. (reference: http://www.prb.org/pdf16/prb-wpds2016-web-2016.pdf )
• The world population will reach 9.9 billion in 2050, up 33 percent from an estimated 7.4 billion now, according to projections included in the 2016 World Population Data Sheet from the Population Reference Bureau (PRB).

Agriculture is the largest source of income and employment for poor rural families.

• 2.6 billion people depend directly on agriculture, but 52 per cent of the land used for agriculture is moderately or severely affected by soil degradation 

• 74 per cent of the poor are directly affected by land degradation globally

Microcredit is sometimes is not suitable for all class of borrowers or farmers because all class of borrowers are not able to change their economic position because they don’t know or they don’t have proper skills how to use credit to generate income. Sometimes farmers are failing to pay the loan on time and they search for another loan to repay the high interest loan. Two factors limit the use of credit as an instrument for poverty eradication, credit cannot be easily targeted to reach the poor & the poorest of the poor cannot make use of credit because they are in no position to undertake an economic activity.

“The non-entrepreneurial poor do not know how to use credit to generate income.”...”The fact is that the vast majority of the most destitute and the "poorest of the poor" are likely to figure among the non-entrepreneurial poor although there is no conclusive evidence of a direct relationship between the level of poverty and the skills and willingness to run a business.”...” Yet while all poor people need to own more assets to generate more income, not all of the poor can express a viable demand for credit to finance the acquisition of these assets. In fact, as mentioned above, the poorest are the least likely to be in a position to express such a demand.” (p. 8)

Source: Garson, Jose. Microfinance and Anti-Poverty Strategies. A Donor Perspective. UNCDF. http://www.undp.org/uncdf/pubs/mf/mf-chap1.htm#a

“Two factors limit the use of credit as an instrument for poverty eradication: (a) credit cannot be easily targeted to reach the poor and (b) many poor people, especially (but not only) the poorest of the poor, cannot make use of credit because they are in no position to undertake an economic activity.” (p. 7) Source: Garson, Jose. Microfinance and Anti-Poverty Strategies. A Donor Perspective. UNCDF. http://www.undp.org/uncdf/pubs/mf/mf-chap1.htm#a

 “Most of the people in the world are poor, so if we knew the economics of being poor we would know much of the economics that really matters. Most of the world's poor people earn their living from agriculture, so if we knew the economics of agriculture we would know much of the economics of being poor” (Shultz, 1979).

Finally, I would like to conclude my views with Shultz (1979) that, most of the world's poor people earn their living from agriculture, so if we knew the economics of agriculture we would know much of the economics of being poor.

Thank you all."

Participatory Human Rights Advancement Society was participated the survey and give comments & feedback on first IAP Report on Accountabilityfor the Global Strategy for Women’s, Children’s & Adolescents’ Health on the 19 October 2016

 

 

The Independent Accountability Panel (IAP), a new panel of experts convened by the United Nations Secretary-General, recently released its first report,“Old Challenges, New Hopes,” an assessment of progress on the Global Strategy for Women’s, Children’s and Adolescents’ Health 2016–2030. The report was also formally submitted to the United Nations Secretary-General atthe Every Woman Every Child high level reception on 20th September 2016. The report places a special focus on equity and argues that urgent actionis needed to meet global health commitments to women, children and adolescents through the Sustainable Development Goals.

Independent Accountability Panel conducted a survey regarding Comments & Feedback onthe first IAP Report on Accountability for the Global Strategy for Women’s, Children’s & Adolescents’ Health.

Participatory Human Rights Advancement Society was invited to participated the survey and givecomments & feedback on first IAP Report on Accountability for the Global Strategy for Women’s, Children’s & Adolescents’ Health.

Link: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/iapreport

 

Open Letter to Permanent Representatives to the UN: Recommendations on the Security Council Open Debate on Women, Peace and Security (WPS) on October 2016

 

Security Council Open Debate on Women, Peace and Security (WPS) urging you to provide details on the progress your country has made on meeting its political, financial and institutional commitments made at last year’s High Level Review of Security Council resolution 1325 (2000). In 2015, three UN peace and security reviews, including the Global Study on SCR 1325 (2000), affirmed the long-made recommendations made by civil society to prioritize conflict prevention, strengthen women’s participation in all decision- making around peace and security issues, substantially scale up the implementation of the women, peace and security agenda and increase investment in women’s organizations. At last year’s High Level Review of SCR 1325 (2000) and Security Council Open Debate on WPS, a record number of Member States participated in the debate. Of the 105 statements made by Member States, 65 percent included concrete commitments or positive statements on advancing women’s meaningful participation in peace, security and political processes and 59 percent emphasized the importance of conflict prevention and women’s role within this.In your statement to the Security Council, we urge you to include updates across your domestic and foreign policies and where relevant in your capacity as a donor and troop and police contributing country. This should include sharing details on how you are working alongside women civil society organizations to implement the WPS agenda including the provisions of SCRs 2122 (2013) and 2242 (2015). Specifically, in regards to:

 

Women’s Participation in Preventing and Resolving Conflict and Post Conflict Rebuilding

We urge you to outline concrete steps taken to:

* Ensure the increased and meaningful representation of women in all peace, political and judicial processes;

* Support diverse women’s civil society and women human rights defenders in conflict- affected countries to engage in local, national, regional and global decision making structures;

*  Integrate women’s substantive participation in the development and implementation of conflict prevention and countering violent extremism UN and national-level strategies in line with commitments made in SCR 2242 (2015); and

* Strengthen gender sensitive disarmament, demobilization reintegration programs and security sector reform initiatives.

 

Addressing Humanitarian Crises through a Gender Lens

We urge you to outline concrete steps taken to:

* Engage women from local communities in the design and implementation of protection of civilian strategies and humanitarian assistance; 

*  In line with international humanitarian law ensure access to the full range of medical, legal, and psychosocial and livelihood services, including sexual and reproductive services, without discrimination; and

* Implement effective asylum and legal protection mechanisms in accordance with international law, remove gender discriminatory nationality laws; and protect women and girls from sexual and gender based violence while in transit and in final destinations.

 

Strengthening Justice, Accountability and the Rule of Law 

 

We urge you to outline concrete steps taken to:

*  Support gender-sensitive security and justice sectors that are accessible to women and girls; uphold the rule of law;implement non-discriminatory laws, policies and practices; and increase women’s recruitment, professional development and equitable access to promotion; 

*  Enable women’s meaningful participation in national reconciliation and transitional justice mechanisms and ensure mediators supporting such processes advocate for diversity in participant representation as well as gender equitable reparations;

*  Address, investigate and prosecute sexual exploitation and abuse committed by all UN and international staff by supporting calls for, or implementing, mandatory pre- deployment vetting and training; the equitable representation of women on conduct and discipline teams; more transparent reporting on allegations and investigations; and priority being given to survivor- centered responses which maintain confidentiality, minimize repeated trauma, and ensure rapid access to medical and psychosocial care;

*  Ensure accountability for crimes perpetrated by all sides of a conflict, by supporting the documentation and investigation of human rights abuses, war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide, particularly for sexual and gender-based violations; 

*  Prevent and ensure accountability for attacks on women human rights defenders and women in public life as well as women who do not fill traditional gender roles and attacks on LGBT individuals; and

* Curb the flow of small arms and light weapons including through enforcing the Arms Trade Treaty, imposing arms embargoes, and implement SDG16.4 on reducing illicit arms flows in a way that reduces gender based violence

Developing and Implementing National Action Plans on 1325

 

We urge you to outline concrete steps taken to:

* Implement a National Action Plan which is robustly monitored and evaluated, well-funded and staffed, and inclusive of civil society in development, implementation and follow-up; and

* Align national security and gender strategies, including national strategies to counter violent extremism, with National Action Plans on SCR 1325 (2000) to ensure WPS aims are coherently and consistently supported.

 

Financing the WPS Agenda

We urge you to outline concrete steps taken to:

* Allocate specific aid to efforts which advance gender equality and women’s leadership,participation and protection;

* Increase predictable, accessible and flexible funding for women’s civil society organizations working on peace and security at all levels, including capacity training to women civil society representatives engaging in peace processes; 

* Ensure that counter-terrorism strategies do not restrict the work of women’s rights organizations through overly restrictive legal, financial and reporting requirements; and

* Support women’s participation in donor conferences to ensure interventions appropriately target the needs of women affected by conflict.

 

Last October, 71 Member States co-sponsored Security Council resolution 2242 (2015) reaffirming that women’sand girl’s empowerment and gender equality are critical to conflict prevention and to broader efforts to maintain international peace and security.Co-sponsoring Security Council resolutions is a positive and symbolic step which then should be followed by UN and national-level implementation.

 

Participatory Human Rights Advancement Society has signed the Open Letter to Permanent Representatives to the UN: Recommendations on the Security Council Open Debate on Women, Peace and Security (WPS).

 

Link of signed open letter: http://www.womenpeacesecurity.org/resource/open-letter-unsc-wps-anniversary-october-2016/

 

 

Participatory Human Rights Advancement Society Joined

THE FIGHT AGAINST FORCED CHILD MARRIAGE

On 15 July 2016

                                                

 

Every two seconds, a child becomes a victim of forced marriage.¹ This egregious child rights violation robs millions of their childhoods,substituting a life of misery and hardship. Right now world leaders, government officials and civil society can make ending forced marriage a priority.Sustainable Development Goal 5.3 has put ending forced marriage on the global agenda and with our support for this goal we can help change the lives of girlslike Maria for the better. Case by case, country by country, the Walk Free Movement will push lawmakers and politicians to protect children from thisabhorrent practice. Participatory Human Rights Advancement Society has joined & signed the petition in collaboration with an international organizationWalk Free.

 

Participatory Human Rights Advancement Society participated the survey on “Sanitation Odor Survey” conducted by Duke University, USA & Universityof Colorado, USA from 25 June 2015 to 22 March 2016

Marc Deshusses and Kathy Jooss On behalf of Duke University Durham, North Carolina, USA  &  Karl Linden on behalf of University of Colorado Boulder, USA conducted a survey on Sanitation Odor Survey. Responses gathered from June25, 2015 through March 22, 2016. Final Stakeholder Odor Report was published on 21 October 2016.  Total respondents (n) = 258. Respondents were heavily weighted toward solution providers (47%), on-site researchers (39%) andsanitation technology developers (36%).  31% of respondents described themselves as users.  Most respondents identified with multiple roles.

Sanitation Systems Described (in brief)

The toilets described were spread somewhat evenly across urban (34%), peri-urban (29%) and rural (37%) settings. More private toilets(single or multiple family use, 48%) were cited by far compared to any other category.

Sanitation systems in 57 different countries were described.  The top three countries accounted for only 23% of all systems; they were India (40 systems), Kenya (32)and Uganda (20).

Sanitation systems were profiled in terms of six subcomponents or stages in the sanitation value chain: the location ofdefecation (here the terms ‘toilet’ and ‘latrine’ were used interchangeably), on-site containment, waste transport, waste processing, application of treatedbyproducts, and the release of untreated waste. Systems are made up of anywhere between one and all six of these components.

Key Outcomes from the survey (in brief):

·       94% of respondents felt malodor was an important barrier to toilet adoption.

·       Issues presented as needing more research and development were diverse. The need forsimple, low cost, water efficient solutions was a common theme.  Better chemical products for cleaning and odor control, a better understanding of the factors contributing to odor, andbetter ways to measure odor were also common.   

·       51% of participants felt that some progress has been made in addressing sanitation malodor.  28% felt that no progress has been made at all.  Only 3% (5 respondents) felt that most odor issues have been resolved.

·       The impact of sanitation odor was varied, with 235 respondents identifying 606 effects.  The top three responses were (1) odor attracts flies and other bugs (42% of the responses), (2) users are forced toendure the unpleasant odor (also 42% of the responses), and (3) individuals choose open defecation instead (36%).  This question was asked with regard to sanitation odor in general andnot linked to any specific source of that odor.

·       For toilets specifically, numerous factors play a role in the degree of odor, but cleaningand maintenance had the strongest influence according to survey results.

·       Odor at the location of defecation itself (at the toilet) was ranked fourth among systemcomponents for very bad or unbearable odor (27%).  Odor associated with the release of untreated waste was ranked as the most severe (51% very bad or unbearable), followed bytransportation of waste (38%), then processing of waste (31%). 

·       Eliminating the release of untreated waste into the environment would

Simultaneously address the source of the most severe sanitation related malodor.

 

National Sustainable Development Goals Scorecard Participatory Human Rights advancement Society participated the survey on 12 February 2016 as a member of this alliance

This scorecard collects data on grassroots women’s groups and gender equality organization’s knowledge of andparticipation in the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) at the national level, including SDG5 on gender equality.

Women Thrive Alliance conducted the survey & collected data from grassroots women’s groups and gender equalityorganization’s on Knowledge of SDGs, Government Initiatives, Civil Society, Safety, Access to RESOURCES, Participation in Decision-Making,

Participatory Human Rights advancement Society participated the survey on 12 February 2016 as a member of thisalliance. Women Thrive’s primary focus will be on strengthening the global movement for gender equality and ensuring that grassroots gender equality organizations hold their governments accountable tothe successful implementation of SDG 5.

 

Scorecard Online:  https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/NationalSDGScorecard  

Participatory Human Rights Advancement Society signed the Corporate Partners Agreement between Sea Shell Hotel & Residence &Participatory Human Rights Advancement Society on the 24 January 2016

 

Sea Shell Hotel & Residence located at Uttara model town since its inception it designed with  latest beautiful  structures , Financial institutions ,Big trading houses , The Residence with a consisting of Sea ShellSuite, Executive Suite, Premio Deluxe & Deluxe. It has furnished conference room, designed for any event, conference, seminar, product lunching or one to one interview etc.Participatory Human Rights Advancement Society signed the Corporate Partners agreement between Sea Shell Hotel & Residence & Participatory HumanRights Advancement Society

                     

Executive Director of PHRAS Mr. Shah Tasadduque Ali Khan and Marketing Executive of

Sea Shell Group Mr. Ariful Islam signed the Corporate Agreement between each other on the 24 January 2016.

 

Participatory Human Rights Advancement Society participated the survey as a member organization of World HealthOrganization Department of Maternal, Newborn, Child and Adolescent Health (MCA) on Research prioritization setting process on social, behavioural and community engagement interventions (SBCE) for maternal, newborn and child health (MNCH) On 21 September 2015

Research Prioritization Process on Social, Behavioural and Community Engagement Interventions (SBCE)

for maternal, newborn and child health (MNCH) conducted by the World Health Organization Department

of Maternal, Newborn, Child and Adolescent Health (MCA).

Participate in this process to identify priorities specifically for research on child health. The three most important research needs on SBCE interventions for maternal health. Suggest three research needs in low- and middle-income countries that could be answered throughresearch programmes of up to five years. Participatory Human Rights Advancement Society was invited to participated this survey as a memberorganization of World Health Organization Department of Maternal, Newborn, Child and Adolescent Health (MCA).

 

Physically Challenged Rahima Akter Get Proper Guidance on Social Issues from Participatory Human Rights Advancement Society & Get Free LegalSupport from Bangladesh Mohila Parishad On The 20^th September 2015

  

Rahima Akter, Husband Mr. Sohag Mia. Present address: house#60, Islambag, Holan Road, Dhakhinkhan, Dhaka-1230, Bangladesh. Mrs. Rahima Akter comes to Participatory Human Rights Advancement Office on 15 September 2015 for getting Legal Help to Divorce her husband and get her Money of Mohrana (Mahr).She is extreme poor and she has no money for going to lawyer. In that circumstances Participatory Human Rights Advancement Society carefully listen from her all the fact and decided to send her “Bangladesh Mohila Parishad” on 20 September 2015 for getting free legal assistance. Rahima get excellent support from Bangladesh Mohila Parishad. They send three (3) notices to her husband Mr. Shoag Mia but they did not get any answer from her husband. After few months Bangladesh Mohila Parishad decided to file a case against her husband. Now the case is continuing at “Dhaka Judge Court”. 

Rahima Akter is a garments worker for the last 12 years. She earned money and she gives most of the money to his husband in good faith to build & furnish a house in her in-laws house at Mymensing. Their conjugal life is not more than 10 years and Rahima had an abortion after second year of her married life now they had no child. Her husband Shoag Mia tactfully takes money from Rahima & she gives money and all her effort to his husband in good faith. Shoag Mia is a day labour. Rahima is elder sister among 8 brothers and sisters. She helps her family to educate her sisters and brothers. Suddenly she had an accident with a truck and auto rickshaw on the 16 December 2014 when she was returning from her in –laws house from Mymensing. This accident seriously damaged her one leg and she was sickbed for the several months. She gets financial assistance for treatment from her garments colleagues and community neighbours. When Rahima experienced with this accident her husband Mr. Shoag Mia non communicating her. Rahima’s husband Mr. Sohag Mia not take any necessary action for her treatment or not give any money to Rahima for her family expenditure. Physically challenged Rahima Akther passing hard time from the 16^th December 2014.She lives hand to mouth her injured leg was infected for the several months but she was unable to take medicine regularly because she has no work now.

 

Global call to support Anti Violence Against Women Act (AVAWA) as a sustainable strategy for peace and security in Africa Published on the 8 April 2015

 

Petition To Endorse Anti Violence Against Women Act (AVAWA). Violence against women (VAW) is recognized as a problem that continues to disenfranchise womeneverywhere at the grassroots level in every region, country, culture, and religion. Gender-based violence violates human rights, hampers productivity,reduces human capital, and undermines economic growth. The global campaign for ending violence against women and the demand for recognition that “women’srights are human rights” has been defined and interpreted in the broadest term to include not only physical, but psychological, emotional and systemicviolence --bringing women advocates together to promote an understanding of VAW and seeking an end to it everywhere in the world.

The United Nations (UN) and the broader international community have recognized and identified this problem and as a result, launched the Conventionon the Elimination of All forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) on 18 December 1979 to advance the status of women. The campaign resulted in amultilateral treaty devised to ensure that most countries have measures to curb the prevalence of violence against women and ensure the advancement of women.Although many countries ratified the CEDAW treaty, they often have no means to implement it domestically. Activists and a number of civil society groups hadargued that the problem was not only increasing, but reaching epidemic proportion in many societies. Many people are beginning to worry that theConvention serves nothing more than being a diplomatic good faith document to appease the League of Nations on human right concerns but without substantiveefforts to end VAW and advance women.

“A Global Call to Action” hearing revisited the United States’ hesitation to ratify the CEDAW, and failure to pass the InternationalViolence Against Women Act (IVAWA). Supporters of ratification hold that the Convention is a valuable mechanism for fighting women’s discriminationworldwide. They argue that U.S. ratification will give CEDAW added legitimacy and empower women who fight discrimination in their own countries. Opponents ofthe Convention maintain that it is not an effective mechanism for addressing discrimination against women internationally or domestically, emphasizingcountries widely believed to have poor women’s rights records have ratified the treaty and that the U.S. Constitution has been a far better protector ofwomen's rights in America than has any international treaty.

The US is right. According to the UN Charter, PART I, Article 1 “1. All peoples have the right of self-determination. By virtue of that right theyfreely determine their political status and freely pursue their economic, social and cultural development.” Both IVAWA and CEDAW are considered to bebased on radical interventionist development of feminist agenda. This statement holds true particularly for countries with colonial heritage whose sovereignagenda has been set on the right to self-determination course. In fact most of all African countries too, are in this category. Nevertheless, VAW is still areal concern. Many African societies are still grappling with the concept of gender inequality while some are in utterly denial about VAW. Aglobal study by the World Health Organization found Sub-Saharan Africa rates for intimate partner violence to be above the world average of6.4%. The highest prevalence is in the Central African sub-region (65.6%) and in the West African sub-region (41.8%). Rates of non-partner sexual violenceare also much higher than the global average of 7%, with the highest prevalence recorded in the central African sub-region (21.1%) and in the southern Africansub-region (17.4%). Recent cases include grim reports from Sudan, Democratic Republic of Congo, Uganda, Egypt, Somalia, and even South Africa on issues ofrape, Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting (FGM/C), IDP, access to or control over and ownership of resources including land, credit, politics, energy,information, and technology. A severe example of VAW concern is the reminder of the abducted girls in Chibok town of Borno State in Northern Nigeria by theterrorist group, Boko Haram. Systemic intimidation to keep education out of women’s reach persists. A new UNESCO Institute of Statistics report shows thatwomen still make up two-thirds of the global illiterate population, and almost half of that is from sub-Saharan Africa alone.

Although CEDAW has brought unprecedented awareness and progress to Gender Inequality and VAW around the world, It is important to understand thatthe fact that a country has ratified an agreement does not necessarily mean that it is observed, implemented, or respected. The grim report on Africa arecoming from countries that have not only accepted or ratified CEDAW but also ratified the Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights onthe Rights of Women in Africa, better known as the Maputo Protocol, which guarantees comprehensive rights to women including the right to take part inthe political process, to social and political equality with men, to control of their reproductive health, and an end to female genital mutilation. It is clearthat there are limitations to treaties especially when they are targeting domestic paradigm. An international treaty seldom stipulates how the Statesshould implement its provisions, leaving it to each State to decide how that obligation will be executed on the domestic plane. There is no rule of generalinternational law that all treaties must have effect in domestic law. States incorporate treaties and norms into their domestic laws by specific"transformational" devices, which often require legislation in order to give treaties domestic effect.

Instead of relying on treaties that have no effect, we are considering another approach that can mobilize the society through a more effectiveawareness and effectuating attitudinal and behavioral changes from within. In order for the vision for ending violence against women to become a reality,countries must be morally as well as legally committed to control violence against women within their own domestic laws. The Anti Violence Against WomenAct (AVAWA) provides a solution that some people have interpreted as the missing link, and have agreed to support because they see it also as aneffective and sustainable strategy for effective localization of the universal agenda on gender equality in Africa.

Anti Violence Against Women Act (AVAWA) provides an opportunity for a country to reveal a detail plan on how it will implement the existing legalprovision for women in its constitution. AVAWA is therefore a comprehensive national action plan that includes programs, policies, and procedures forfulfilling a country’s mandate to protect and empower women as written in its constitution. For example, the Constitution of Egypt states: “The state commitsto the protection of women against all forms of violence, and ensures women empowerment to reconcile the duties of a woman toward her family and her workrequirements.” In this case, Egypt’s Anti Violence Against Women Act will be Egypt’s national action plan, guiding policies, procedures, budget, andinstitutions responsible for meeting this constitutional mandate. The AVAWA also serves as an impetus for developing a comprehensive national strategy aswell as for updating judicial, legislative, enforcement and budgetary policies to address complex challenges of violence against women and other specificneeds for healing with emphasis on rehabilitation of victims, and advancing gender equality measures. This detailed action plan is published for domesticand international review and updated annually.

AVAWA is essentially an ‘Act’ of accountability on the need to respect a country’s obligation to the contract with its society. AVAWA is complementaryto CEDAW, Maputo Protocol, I-VAWA, DEVAW, and AWAVA. Its self-determination procedure makes it easily embraced in developing societies. AVAWA is original,nonintrusive initiative and adopting the process will improve women’s condition dramatically without compromising the integrity of the country within theinternational community of nations.

Moreover, the constitutionality of every law and every act of the Government is one of the most important political principles of democracies anduniversally accepted rule of law norms. Because Constitutions are understood to be supreme law of the land, they must be carried out and their implementationmust be prioritized as primary needs of the country. The parliamentary or congressional approval requirement and the harmonization of the regulationprocess of AVAWA with executing institutions are not as complicated as if it were a bilateral or multilateral interventionist ratification agenda.

The very essence of civil liberty consists of the right of every individual to claim the protection of the laws, whenever one receives aninjury; one of the main duties of government is to protect the rights of all persons. The fact that the country provides a well-articulated procedure suchas the AVAWA can attract more democratic inclusion and stimulate improvement in governance. The international community will have legitimate measure to hold acountry accountable for its failure to deliver on its constitutional obligation or choose to reward its proven success for improving the welfare of women inits sovereignty. The case for violence against women and detail information about arriving at AVAWA, how to implement, monitor and how to promote itsawareness was presented on March 13th, 2015 at the Consulate General of Nigeria in New York as a parallel session to the United Nations’ 59th Convention on theStatus of Women. The presentation provided on the link below gives a detail insight to history of VAW, including the difference between VAW (ViolenceAgainst Women) and VAM (Violence Against Men) and the feasibility of AVAWA: Detail on AVAWA: http://bit.ly/AVAWA-petition

Participatory Human Rights Advancement Society has endorsed the AVAWA initiative as anon-intrusive diplomatic strategy to mitigate as well as make ending violence against women and girls a top priority for African States. AVAWA suggeststhat the African States government implement a comprehensive, multi-sectorial strategy to reduce and end violence. Endorsing will makethe AVAWA report a legal tender of nations’ accountability act. 

 

Signed petition on AVAWA: http://bit.ly/AVAWA-petition

 

 Signature Campaign to demand the release of the prominent feminists from Mainland (8th March 2015)

 

Initiated by The Association for the Advancement of Feminism (website: www.aaf.org.hk) (8th March 2015 ) Women and sexuality groups in Hong Kong express grave concern with the recent arrests by the Beijing authorities of five prominent female activists, including Li Tingting (李婷婷)(also known as Maizi麥子), Wei Tingting (韋婷婷), Wang Man (王曼) in Beijing, Wu Rongrong (武嶸嶸) in Hangzhou, and Zheng Churang (鄭楚然) (also known as Datu) in Guangzhou, but apparently with no solid legal ground. We urge the Beijing police to respect the freedom of speech as prescribed in the PRC Constitution, and ensure that the women’s legal procedural rights including rights to meet with lawyers and families, and rights to personal safety are strictly observed. We urge for their immediate release in so far as no sufficient evidence can be found to accuse them of any illegal act.

In this light, we call for the Chinese government to look into the issues of social concerns genuinely, and resolve them with tenability by enhancing the standard of the laws and their implementation, instead of just maneuvering to quell the voice of the whistle blowers. We, the signatories, would like to reiterate hereby our grave concerns of this recent series of arrests, and we will continue to monitor the situation unless the cases are handled with justice and activists are released. Participatory Human Rights Advancement Society express grave concern in this issue.

Link of Submitted Signature:      

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1Nop5uoVF3punlPphwgve2HIPGefj1ct53tPgTpAeg7U/formResponse

 

  

 May 28 International Day of Action for Women's Health Campaign!

Our Health, Our Rights, Our Lives!

Participatory Human Rights Advancement Society has endorsed the Call for Action! & JOIN THE CAMPAIGN ON 23 MAY 2015

  

May 28, International Day of Action for Women’s Health
Our Health, Our Rights, Our Lives!
End Violence Against Women in ALL its Forms

 

On May 28 International Day of Action for Women’s Health, women’s rights activists and allies advocate worldwide for women ’s comprehensive health and well-being, particularly their unmet sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR). This May 28, we call on governments worldwide to respect, protect, and fulfill women’s right to health, dignity and bodily integrity, and end violence against women in ALL its forms. Governments around the world are currently in the final stages of establishing the Post-2015 Development Agenda, which will include a set of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) that will guide international development policies, priorities, and funding over the next 15 years. Throughout this and other recent global review processes, violence against women has rightly received due attention from governments and UN institutions alike as “one of the most prevalent forms of human rights violations worldwide,” constraining women’s empowerment and impeding sustainable development. Yet one form of violence, particularly experienced by women and girls if they are young, unmarried, poor, HIV affected, of diverse sexual orientations or gender identities, living with a disability, or in other vulnerable situations, remains rampant and unaddressed: namely, the institutional violence they experience when they are denied their right to health and are unable to access sexual and reproductive health services. “Institutional violence,” or violence perpetrated by the State, has traditionally been understood as largely occurring within extreme circumstances of conflicts, disasters, and economic crises.  As defined by the 1993 UN Declaration on the Elimination of Violence Against Women, however, violence against women includes “physical, sexual and psychological violence perpetrated or condoned by the State or its agents regardless of where it occurs.”  With this definition in mind, examples of violence and discrimination resulting from the violation of women’s right to sexual and reproductive health are far too common and widespread, such as: 

•    The denial of the right to access safe and legal abortion services.
•    Forced or coerced sterilization.
•    Obstetric violence.
•    The denial of access to contraceptives including emergency contraception.

This May 28, we must remind governments worldwide that #WomensHealthMatters, hold leaders accountable, and ensure that commitments related to sexual and reproductive health and rights are retained if not strengthened in future development efforts. In solidarity with all other signatory, Participatory Human Rights Advancement endorsed the Call for Action to UN Delegates who over the course of Post-2015 processes have shown support for women and girls’ SRHR.

 

 Joint Statement: Call for an international legally binding instrument on human rights, transnational corporations and other business enterprises

 

This statement has been endorsed by a wide alliance of international networks, organizations and social movements, listed below[1]. It represents the collective expression of a growing mobilization of global civil society calling for further enhancement of international legal standards to address corporate infringements of human rights. It welcomes the recent initiatives by States in the United Nations Human Rights Council to develop an international treaty on legally binding rules for TNCs on human rights issues.

 We, the undersigned organisations, Concerned about the continuing abuses and violations of human rights occurring all over the world which directly or indirectly engage the responsibility of business enterprises;

Concerned also that such abusive conduct often disproportionately impacts women, who comprise the majority of workers in the most vulnerable sectors, peasants, indigenous peoples, persons living in poverty, children among others, and especially concerned by the fact that justice is denied to those who suffer harm,

Considering the invaluable work done by human rights defenders and organisations, trade unions, indigenous rights and women rights defenders and others defending and protecting human rights in the face of corporate-related abuses,

Concerned at the incidence of attacks, harassment, restrictions, intimidation and reprisals against these human rights defenders,

Considering the initiatives taken by some States within and outside the United Nations human rights bodies as well as the action and work undertaken by human rights experts and bodies of the United Nations to provide better protection of human rights in the context of business operations,

Recalling existing States’ obligations under global and regional human rights treaties and the need to implement and complement those treaties to make them effective in the context of business transnational operations,

Convinced of the need to enhance the international legal framework, including international remedies, applicable to State action to protect rights in the context of business operations, and mindful of the urgent need to ensure access to justice and remedy and reparations for victims of corporate human rights abuse,

1. Call upon the States to elaborate an international treaty that:

a) Affirms the applicability of human rights obligations to the operations of transnational corporations and other business enterprises;

b) Requires States Parties to monitor and regulate the operations of business enterprises under their jurisdiction, including when acting outside their national territory, with a view to prevent the occurrence of abuses of human rights in the course of those operations,

c) Requires States Parties to provide for legal liability for business enterprises for acts or omissions that infringe human rights;

d) Requires States Parties to provide for access to an effective remedy by any State concerned, including access to justice for foreign victims that suffered harm from acts or omissions of a business enterprise in situations where there are bases for the States involved to exercise their territorial or extraterritorial protect-obligations.

e) Provides for an international monitoring and accountability mechanism.

f) Provides for protection of victims, whistle-blowers and human rights defenders that seek to prevent, expose or ensure accountability in cases of corporate abuse and guarantees their right to access to information relevant in this context

2. Call on the United Nations Human Rights Council to take step towards the elaboration of this treaty, and to that end establish an open ended working group tasked with a drafting mandate.

3. Call on civil society organisations to take measures towards the establishment of a joint initiative to achieve the objective of a legally binding instrument within the United Nations without delay.

[1]This statement was originaly drafted by participants in the first annual Peoples' Forum on Human Rights and Business. The Forum was convened jointly by ESCR-Net and Forum-Asia from 5 to 7 November in Bangkok, Thailand.

Participatory Human Rights Advancement Society has signed & joined the movement of hundreds of groups around the world calling for a binding international treaty to address corporate human rights abuses.

Link of the Signed Statement: http://www.treatymovement.com/statement

 

 

 CEDAW Committee: Adopt a General Recommendation on Indigenous Women

The purpose of this petition is to request your support in order to step forward together in affirming and exercising our specific rights as indigenous women around the world.  We know that indigenous women in all parts of the world face conditions and situations that intensify the violence that we experience as women and that our demands as indigenous women relative to our specific rights are often invisibilized. The Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) is the first and most important instrument of the United Nations that holds states responsible for acts of violence against women, whether perpetrated by the State or by private persons. However, we as indigenous women feel that the CEDAW Convention does not specifically address the type of racism and discrimination we experience, nor does it take into account the relationship between our collective rights as indigenous communities and our rights as women. Faced with this situation, a group of organizations joined forces to develop a document that reflects our concerns and claims regarding our individual and collective rights as indigenous women, and we will submit this document, with your support, to the CEDAW Committee, calling upon them to issue a specific General Recommendation on Indigenous Women, based on the proposals contained in this document. We need your support to show the CEDAW Committee that this is important for indigenous women to exercise and enjoy our human rights. In solidarity, Indigenous Women’s Alliance for CEDAW This initiative was undertaken in collaboration between: Tzununijá Indigenous Women’s Movement, Tik Na’oj, Maya Association Uk’ ux B’e, Sinergia No´j, Community Studies and Psychosocial Action Team (ECAP), JASS (Just Associates) and the Women’s Human Rights Education Institute (WHRI). In order to step forward together in affirming and exercising our specific rights as indigenous women around the world Participatory Human Rights Advancement Society has signed the petition.

 

Link of the petition:

https://secure.avaaz.org/en/petition/CEDAW_Committee_Adopt_a_General_Recommendation_on_Indigenous_Women/?tUTgDab

 

 

 

 International Campaign for the Absolute Prohibition of Torture and Ill-treatment

The absolute prohibition of torture is under attack, and public opinion is putting up with it.  This deviation from the international norm is a negation of the dignity of the human person. Nobel Peace Prize laureates Martti Ahtisaari, Kofi Annan, Jean-Marie Gustave Le Clézio, Rigoberta Menchú, José Ramos-Horta, Adolfo Pérez Esquivel, Joseph Stiglitz, Desmond Tutu and Jimmy Carter have signed the OMCT Manifesto, "Nothing can justify torture under any circumstances". Kofi Annan and Sandrine Salerno, Mayor of Geneva, formally signed the Manifesto on 23 June 2010 to mark the launching of an international campaign to alert everyone to the dangers which a society that tolerates torture risks. Participatory Human Rights Advancement Society has signed the petition. 

Link of the signed petition:

http://www.omct.org/international-campaigns/campaign-prohibition-torture/signatures/bangladesh/

International Campaign for the Absolute Prohibition of Torture and Ill-treatment

 

 Young student imprisoned for peaceful protests in Myanmar

 Phyoe Phyoe Aung is a young activist and Secretary General of one of Myanmar’s student unions. On 10 March 2015, she, along with other students were arrested by police for their peaceful demonstrations. The students were protesting against a new education law, which they believe limits freedom of education. This is not right. Tell the Government that student activism is not a crime. Phyoe Phyoe Aung was charged with a range of offences including taking part in an unlawful assembly and inciting the public to commit offences against the State. She remains in detention and it’s uncertain when the court will actually sentence her. Demand the Government release Phyoe Phyoe Aung from all charges immediately and unconditionally. The authorities are cracking down on student activists that challenge their policies. This is a blatant attack on freedom of expression and it needs to be stopped. While in prison, Phyoe Phyoe Aung’s health has deteriorated due to the unclean water and poor sanitation. We have a window of opportunity to help Phyoe Phyoe Aung and the other detained peaceful student protesters. In the lead up to the nation’s next general elections, the Government is attempting to show the world that it has finally left it’s brutal past behind and is now committed to respecting human rights. Remind the Government that the world is watching and we demand the freedom of Phyoe Phyoe Aung’s freedom, her fellow students and all prisoners of conscience in Myanmar. In solidarity with Amnesty International, Australia, Participatory Human Rights Advancement Society signed the petition to demand the release of prisoners of conscience in Myanmar.

 

Link of submitted petition:

http://www.amnesty.org.au/action/action/38007/?utm_source=Campaign&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=TACT674_20150914&utm_content=emailshare_tyemail

  

Runa Begum gets legal advice & financially assisted for purchasing a goat On ‎November ‎28, ‎2014

Runa Begum gets legal advice & financially assisted for purchasing a goat on Friday, ‎November ‎28, ‎2014. Runa Begum a house worker. She is a permanent resident of Badarganj thana of Rangpur district. Her age 24 years. She worked as house maid for several years in Dhaka city. Her mother was married another person when she was divorced by Runa’s father in Runa’s childhood. Runa fall in love & when she requested her boy friend for married her but Runa was ill treated by his boy friend & the person is already married before communicating Runa.

Runa comes to us for giving her an advice & heard her life story carefully & we requested Runa to be empowered but she had already fall in hard financial crises in this situation it was totally impossible for her. Our resource is limited though our resource is limited we financially assist Runa for purchasing a goat & runa started her struggling life in Dhaka as house worker and she give the goat to her grandmother in her village Badarganj, Rangpur.

 Call for Action on International Day of Action for Women’s Health:

Mobilize, Assert, Demand!

 

Women’s rights activists around the world in the re-launch of May 28th International Day of Action for Women’s Health, by calling on governments and the international community to ensure a holistic, inclusive, and human rights-based approach to women and girls’ health in the Post-2015 Development Agenda.

In 1987, women’s rights activists declared May 28 as the International Day of Action for Women’s Health, as a means to speak out on Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) issues faced by women¹ and girls all over the world.

Nearly 30 years on, while the challenges obstructing the full realization of all women’s health and wellbeing remain varied and often unaddressed, a disturbing paradigm has persisted: namely, an often limited, narrow and imposed understanding of women’s health, as well as the actual needs of all women and girls in all their diversities.

The Millennium Development Goals (MDGs),² a set of eight development goals that UN member states and development institutions committed to in 2000, perpetuated this limited understanding by focusing almost exclusively on maternal health, itself defined narrowly by survival numbers and the presence of skilled birth attendants, as opposed to a comprehensive definition which includes women and girls’ autonomy, privacy and dignity rights. By narrowly focusing on maternal health, the MDGs effectively omitted and ignored the commitments governments made at the 1994 International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD), which placed gender equality, women’s empowerment, and sexual and reproductive health and reproductive rights at the heart of sustainable development.³

There is a lack of meaningful commitment on the part of governments to address the diverse nature of women’s sexual and reproductive health issues, as well as promote, protect, and respect our sexual rights and reproductive rights to decide freely upon all aspects of our body, our sexuality and our lives, free form coercion, discrimination and violence.

We need to hold governments accountable to their existing commitments, ensuring that national policies effectively guarantee and support women’s choices and rights. These obligations are not just about governments reaffirming past commitments and repeating words; they are about implementation and taking action towards progressive realization. They are also about addressing existing realities in order to fulfill the rights of women and girls that for too long have been disregarded and even explicitly denied.

As such, it is vital that existing commitments on women and girls’ SRHR not only be included but also strengthened in the Post-2015 Development Agenda.The new development agenda MUST firmly establish a holistic, inclusive, and human rights-based approach to women’s health.

Governments around the world are currently involved in the process of evaluating achievements under the present global development agenda expressed in the MDGs. We cannot talk of sustainable development without the respect of human rights of women and girls in all their diversities, and without the meaningful participation of women and girls in the creation of the Post-2015 development framework.

If one hopes to have a holistic, inclusive, forward-looking, and relevant Post-2015 Development Agenda, we believe women’s health for all, particularly in terms of their SRHR, must be central to the goals and targets, and draw on existing international and regional human rights treaties such as CEDAW,⁵ Belem do Pará Convention⁶ and Maputo Protocol,⁷ and the most progressive international and regional documents and consensus such as the Bali Global Youth Forum Declaration,⁸ Asian and Pacific Ministerial Declaration on Population and Development⁹ and the Montevideo Consensus on Population and Development.¹⁰

Human rights must be explicitly referenced, with the understanding that “the promotion and protection of sexual rights and reproductive rights are essential for the achievement of social justice and the national, regional and global commitments to the three pillars of sustainable development: social, economic and environmental,”¹¹ and that any meaningful efforts towards transformative and sustainable development must posit people as the drivers of development rather than passive receivers of aid priorities and programming.

As recently asserted by CEDAW, the “failure of a State to provide services and the criminalization of some services that only women require is a violation of women’s reproductive rights and constitutes discrimination against them.”¹² Not only is women and girls’ SRHR a human rights issue in and of itself, it is central to their empowerment and achievement of other rights.

When states fail to recognize full sexual rights and reproductive rights, they not only compromise women’s health, they both tolerate and endorse institutional and structural violence towards women and girls, abusing their human rights and perpetuating their marginalization and social exclusion. Any Post-2015 Development Agenda will fail to be transformative if women and girls’ sexual rights and reproductive rights are not meaningfully included as an integral component for equitable and sustainable development. Governments are capable of more, and women and girls in all of their diversities deserve more.We call on governments to ensure a comprehensive, high-quality, and integrated approach to SRHR, including but not limited to:

• The recognition of the SRHR of young people, ensuring access to youth-friendly sexual and reproductive health information and services, as well as comprehensive sexuality education that is gender sensitive, non-discriminatory and life-skills based, in a manner consistent with the evolving capacity of adolescents and young people;
• The recognition of the sexual rights (including the right to pleasure) of all people, including those who are most marginalized;
• Universal access to a full range of voluntary contraceptive methods, including emergency contraception, that is of high quality and variety, is also user-friendly and appropriate to the needs of girls, adolescents and women, and ensures their confidentiality;
• Universal access to safe and legal abortion, urging governments to review and repeal laws that criminalize voluntary abortion, and remove all legal and implementation barriers to ensuring access to safe, comprehensive, free, sensitive and high-quality procedures for pregnancy termination, free of marital and/or parental consent requirements;
• The recognition of and respect for women’s reproductive rights regarding access, bodily integrity, autonomy, and decision-making in various contexts, including surrogacy, New Reproductive Technologies, and Human Rights in Childbirth, among others;
• The eradication of all forms of violence and discrimination based on age, sex, sexual orientation and gender identity, occupation, class, ethnicity, religion, disability, migrant or HIV status, among other grounds.

In solidarity with May 28th International Day of Action for Women’s Health, Participatory Human Rights Advancement Society has joined and Endorsing the Call to Action as of May 28, 2014 with global community.

For list of participating organizations/individuals please click the link http://www.may28.org/call-for-action/

 Call for urgent political leadership and concerted international action to PREVENT, PROTECT and PROSECUTE to stop rape in conflict

 

The International Campaign to Stop Rape & Gender Violence in Conflict unites organizations and individuals into a powerful and coordinated effort for change. Together we will demand bold political leadership to prevent rape in conflict, to protect civilians and rape survivors, and call for justice for all—including effective prosecution of those responsible.

Participatory Human Rights Advancement Society has pledge to call for urgent political leadership and concerted international action to PREVENT, PROTECT and PROSECUTE to stop rape in conflict.

For more information please visit  http://www.stoprapeinconflict.org/

 For a Life Free from Violence Against Women and Girls!

 

For a Life Free from Violence Against Women and Girls!

Call For Participation: International Women’s Day March On March 8, 2013

 

During the 57th session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW57), taking place at the United Nations in New York from March 4-15, 2013, Member State representatives will discuss the advances they have made in the elimination and prevention of all forms of violence against women and girls...Participatory Human Rights Advancement Society, Dhaka, Bangladesh has joined the event as co-sponsor and endorsed the call “For a Life Free from Violence Against Women and Girls!”. To see a chart of all participating organizations and activities please click here.

 

CALL FOR PARTICIPATION

International Women’s Day March on March 8, 2013

For a Life Free from Violence Against Women and Girls!

 

During the 57th session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW57), taking place at the United Nations in New York from March 4-15, 2013, Member State representatives will discuss the advances they have made in the elimination and prevention of all forms of violence against women and girls. In response to this discussion AWID, the Center for Women’s Global Leadership, United Methodist Women and the Women & Global Migration Working Group are calling on women’s organizations around the world to hold rallies, marches and vigils on International Women’s Day, Friday March 8, 2013, to advocate that States respond, protect, and prevent violence against women and girls in all their diversity!

This march calls on States to take concrete steps to end impunity, one of the biggest challenges to achieving justice in cases of violence against women; fund programs and services for gender equality and the realization of  human rights; decrease military spending, one of the driving forces of violence against women; and protect women human rights defenders, who are at the forefront of defending women’s rights and who face increased levels of gender-based violence globally.

  1. Take Concrete Steps to End Impunity! Today, millions of women and girls still suffer disproportionately from violence both in peace and in war, at the hands of the State; non-state actors, including transnational corporations; and in the home and community.  Around the world women in all their diversity are beaten, raped, mutilated, and killed with impunity.[i]  State policy must explicitly address the realities of women and girls who experience multiple oppressions due to race, ethnicity, language, religion, class, sexual orientation, marital status, age or national origin, including rural women, immigrant women, indigenous women, if ALL women are to be able to fully claim rights.   States have the obligation to prevent, protect against, and prosecute violence against women whether perpetrated by private or public actors. [ii] States also have a responsibility to uphold standards of due diligence and take steps to fulfill their responsibility to protect individuals from human rights abuses. [iii]   But there is a lack of State accountability when it comes to government’s role in perpetrating violence against women, the role of transnational corporations that work in tandem with States to usurp natural resources and displace entire communities violently, and in protecting women and girls from violence in the home and community.  Within militarism’s culture of violence, individuals in positions of authority believe they can commit crimes with impunity, which is exemplified by high rates of sexual violence within the military, threats by police to women reporting cases of violence, ongoing harassment and intimidation, forced “virginity tests” on female protestors by authorities, and violence against women living and working around military bases. [iv]  Women human rights defenders who work on issues related to economic, social, and cultural rights as well as civil and political rights are also targeted. [v] This State failure to bring perpetrators of sexual and gender-based violence to justice remains a critical challenge to ending violence against women.  Across the globe more needs to be done to prevent violence against women and to prosecute those who perpetrate violence against women.[vi]

  2. Fund Gender Equality and Human Rights Instead of Militarism!  Military expenditure, the arms trade and conflict often exacerbate violence against women as well as decrease financial resources for social and economic rights and the promotion of gender equality.  States have an obligation to respect, protect and fulfill economic and social rights.  The International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR) specifies in Article 2.1 that, “Each State Party…undertakes to take steps, individually and through international assistance and co-operation, especially economic and technical, to the maximum of its available resources, with a view to achieving progressively the full realization of the rights recognized in the present Covenant by all appropriate means, including particularly the adoption of legislative measures.”  Rather than allocating high levels of expenditure toward the military, States should increase financial resources to advance economic and social rights and women’s rights to build a culture of human rights instead of a culture of militarism. 

  3. Protect Women Human Rights Defenders (WHRDs)! The world over, against all odds, Women Human Rights Defenders work tirelessly for the protection and promotion of human rights.[vii]Yet, violence against these advocates is increasing around the world.[viii] As human rights defenders, Women’s Human Rights Defenders face the same types of risks faced by all defenders who work to uphold the rights of people, communities and the environment; as women, they are also exposed to gender-specific risks and are targets of gender-based violence, such as sexual abuse, harassment, violations from husbands/partners and male colleagues, and violations by the State. [ix] They also face heightened risks and vulnerabilities because of their work on women-specific rights/issues that frequently challenge cultural stereotypes and religion. Their work can raise levels of hostility, more so because women are considered markers of culture and religion.[x]

 

To see a chart of all participating organizations and activities please click here.

 

 Campaign Against Drug

Participatory Human Rights Advancement Society always try to aware general people specially young people about the harmful side about drugs and PHRAS always works for a drug* free society & deliver the message “Say No To Drugs!! to the general people specially young people and students. We arrange regular Campaigns/Youth Group Meetings with students and the young people of the society to make them aware against drugs and the harmful side about it.

We always advise people:

Living a drug-free life.

Showing friends that a drug-free life is more fun.

Learning more about how drugs really harm people.

Telling people the truth about the harmful effects of drugs.

Helping family and friends be drug-free.

Working with others to help spread the truth about drugs.

Together we create a drug-free World!!

             Campaign Against Drugs The 12 February, 2013

 

 

 

 International Walk for Human Rights

  

December 10th, Monday, 2012 is our International Human Rights Day. We work for creating a culture of respect for the Human Rights of All. Whatever be our beliefs, religion, political views, gender or race by agreeing on the concept of respect for the rights of others, we generate a code of acceptable conduct across society. This culture of unity is essential to gain a peaceful, creative and enjoyable future. Participatory Human Rights Advancement Society (PHRAS) conducted a Peace Walk in Dhaka, Bangladesh. On the occasion of the 64th Anniversary of United Nations Human Rights Day to raise awareness of Human Rights. Working together, each individual playing their part we can bring major change to our communities. We wish to make the coming year the year of improvement in Human Rights. 

 

Youth for Human Rights International (YHRI) commemorates United Nations Human Rights Day, December 10, with its fourth annual “International Walk for Human Rights.” In solidarity with Youth for Human Rights International (YHRI), Participatory Human Rights Advancement Society (PHRAS),Dhaka,Bangladesh has organized “International Walk for Human Rights” In front of Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport, Dhaka, Bangladesh the 7th December 2012 a peaceful walk and mass gathering and human chain for raising awareness on the United Nations Declaration of Human Rights. Students, volunteers, citizens and likeminded organization WE for ALL shows their solidarity and  participating in this peaceful walk to raise awareness of Human Rights Education. We all are enjoyed the walk and our volunteers had funs during walking. T-shirt and certificate of participation distributed within participant of the walk. After walk snacks and soft drinks distributed within all participants .

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) grew from the determination of human rights advocates to prevent the devastating human rights abuse that occurred during World War II from ever happening again. On December 10, 1948, Eleanor Roosevelt presented the UDHR to the General Assembly of the United Nations.  The document is a compilation of the 30 human rights that apply to everyone, everywhere. In ratifying the Declaration, the General Assembly of the United Nations called upon the member nations "to cause it to be disseminated, displayed, read and expounded principally in schools and other educational institutions, without distinction based on the political status of countries or territories."

Despite this mandate, more than six decades after the Declaration was adopted, most countries do not require human rights education in their schools, resulting in widespread ignorance of this document and its content.

 

 

International Walk For Human Rights, 7th December 2012

 

 Climate Impacts Day: Wake up World

 

Participatory Humans Rights Advancement Society organizes event, as part of the global climate awareness campaign ‘Connect the Dots’. Major US-based environmental advocacy group 350.org has organized a global day of action on May 5, 2012, to draw the world’s attention to the various adverse effects of climate change occurring simultaneously in many communities around the world. As part of the worldwide campaign, Participatory Human Rights Advancement Society has organized an event “Climate Impacts Day: Wake up World” on the day.

Connect the Dots is a project of 350.org and allies to clearly draw the connection between extreme weather and climate change.  It aims to highlight the many bizarre patterns of extreme weather conditions around the world in recent years, including hurricanes in the United States, floods in Pakistan and Thailand, record-breaking heat waves in Russia, flooding and wildfires in Australia, among many other examples. Bangladesh is at the top of the list of countries most at risk due to climate change. Our country experiences adverse weather patterns every year as extreme summers cause loss of crops, heightened flood patterns cause massive destruction to lives and livelihood and already noticeable rise in sea levels is causing of coastal agricultural lands to become saline and thus unfit for cultivation. Additionally, we are also observing a slow process of losing the six seasons in Bangladesh as seasons are merging into extreme summers, monsoons and winter. We fear that we will no longer be ‘Choi ritur desh’.  Connect the Dots campaign will demonstrate that ‘climate change is not a future problem — it’s happening right now.’

Farhan Ahmed, a climate activist and volunteer organizer of the event said ‘Climate change, as a result of excessive carbon emissions in the developed world, threatens Bangladesh, which is the innocent bystanders in this phenomenon. Bangladesh has a rightful voice in the climate debate, and joining this worldwide campaign will promote our voice on the global stage.’

Climate Impacts Day on 5 May, 2012 will bring together thousands of communities to take action to highlight the dramatic climate change impacts we are witnessing around the world. The event by Participatory Human Rights Advancement Society attended by members of the society, invited guests from various environmental organizations, university students and is open to all to join. The ultimate aim of the event is to stand in solidarity with the global movement, which is extremely pertinent to our national agenda, and draw the world’s attention to climate change and its adverse effects in Bangladesh, which is predicted to lose a third of its land-mass by the end of the century if sea level continue to rise as a result of melting ice caps.

 

 

Campaign "Climate Impacts Day" 5th May 2012

 

 

 Campaign with Physically Challenged People:

Equal Access for All Barriers Should Fall

Promoting public awareness that disabled people can function independently within society is seen by many as a necessary precursor to widespread changes in accessibility, housing, and social and economic opportunities for physically disabled people. The goal of the present investigation was to empirically assess the effectiveness of a major Bangladeshi publicity campaign which was designed to sensitize people to the needs and concerns of physically disabled people and to promote favorable attitude change. Results indicate that while the visibility of the publicity campaign can be considered a modest success, the campaign was ineffective in promoting positive attitude change. The campaign was organized by B-SCAN, Bangladesh in solidarity with B-SCAN CRP, Water Aid, Rotary International & Participatory Human Rights Advancement Society & other like minded organizations joined the campaign and introducing wheel chair rally by physically challenged people which was first time in Bangladesh.

 

Campaign with Physically Challenged People The 2nd April 2012

  

 Celebrating International Women's Day (8 March) 2012 

 

 

Theme: CONNECTING GIRLS, INSPIRING FUTURES is a global day celebrating the economic, political and social achievements of women past, present and future. In some places like China, Russia, Vietnam and Bulgaria, International Women's Day is a national holiday. Why: Suffragettes campaigned for women's right to vote. The word 'Suffragette' is derived from the word "suffrage" meaning the right to vote. International Women's Day honours the work of the Suffragettes, celebrates women's success, and reminds of inequities still to be redressed. The first International Women's Day event was run in 1911. In solidarity with the global day Participatory Human Rights Advancement Society going to organizing an event "Empowering Women "for details of this event please click the link;  http://www.internationalwomensday.com/phrasbd

 

 

 Awareness Raising Group Meeting

 

 

 Moving Planet Campaign

Safeguard the environment at global, national and local levels. We can still choose how we use our environment. When we use resources wisely, we honor the trust the next generation has placed in us. Environmental threats like global warming and the water crisis take their greatest toll on children. Water-borne diseases cause the preventable deaths and illnesses of millions of children. Environmental threats will continue to take their toll, for the mistakes of today will continue to haunt the world tomorrow. 

We must act today. The world belongs to our children; we are its caretakers. We must preserve our natural resources even as we use them, to ensure our children’s rights to a healthy environment.

Moving Planet is a worldwide rally to demand solutions to the climate crisis—a single day to move away from fossil fuels. For too long, our leaders have denied and delayed, compromised and caved. That era must come to an end. The campaigning wants to inspire the world to rise to the challenge of the climate crisis - to create a new sense of urgency and of possibility for our planet. On the 24th of September 2011 everyone is invited to participate in one of the many events taking place worldwide 350.org takes a lead in the campaign. 350.org is an international campaign dedicated to building a movement to unite the world around solutions to the climate crisis - the solutions that science ...

 Moving Planet is a worldwide rally to demand solutions to the climate crisis—a single day to move away from fossil fuels. For too long, our leaders have denied and delayed, compromised and caved. That era must come to an end.

The campaign wants to inspire the world to rise to the challenge of the climate crisis - to create a new sense of urgency and of possibility for our planet. On the 24th of September 2011 Participatory Human Rights Advancement Society with hundreds of organizations joins the Moving Planet central event of Bangladesh in solidarity with the 350.org to participate in one of the many events taking place worldwide. 

350.org takes a lead in the campaign. 350.org is an international campaign dedicated to building a movement to unite the world around solutions to the climate crisis - the solutions that science and justice demand. 

The theory of change is simple: if an international grassroots movement holds our leaders accountable to the latest climate science, we can start the global transformation we so desperately need.

 

 

Moving Planet Campaign Dhaka Central Event the 24th September 2011

 

 PHRAS Scholarship Program

Time to time PHRAS has taken nessary education assistance as scholarship for meritorious brilliant boys or girls of the poor needy family.We give this scholarship for those boys or girls who have not able to attend SSC (Secondary School Certificate) exam for financial crisis of their family.

 

Sapna gets Scholarship from PHRAS for attending her SSC examination.

 

 Distributing Winter Cloths

  

Participatory Human Rights Advancement Society regularly organized the Winter Cloths Distribution program. Our organization has collect cloths from its own network & effort and distributed the cloths within the poor people of the community.

 

Distributing Winter Cloths and Foods

 

 Petition Drive

The first article of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights affirms that “all human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights”. The International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination reminds us of our collective responsibility for promoting and protecting this ideal. The International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination in solidarity with this day, we the Participatory Human Rights Advancement Society organized the event "Petition Drive" in collaboration with YHRI with our supporters and volunteers for implement human rights education into the school curriculum so that our youth learn their human rights. When young people know what their human rights are, they become valuable advocates for tolerance and peace.

 

 

Human Rights Education Materials of Youth for Human Rights International, USA.

 

 

 Campaign: "We Demand Safe Road"

"We Demand Safe Road" a  regular Social Media Campaign with Participatory Human Rights Advancement Society’s online platform by using Facebook, Twitter, Blog & our organization’s website for creating awareness to general people.

                                                                                              

 Community Road Repairing, Maintenance & Weed Control

This Program gives Participatory Human Rights Advancement Society’s volunteer groups the opportunity to help the community to keep beautiful by volunteering their labour to pick up litter from community walkways along with road sides.  During rainy season PHRAS with its full volunteering effort willingly jumps into the “Community Road Repairing, Maintenance & Weed Control”. A volunteer group must commit to looking after the entire length of road or walk ways. Primarily, PHRAS adopt a community road in front of the organization within its own vicinity and joint possession.

 

Repairing Community Road

 

Repairing Community Walkways

  Community Survey

PHRAS like many other development NGOs, has been conducting surveys over the years. The nature of surveys has varied. Some were undertaken to satisfy project reporting; others looked at impact out of a concern that PHRAS shared; yet others were done for our own learning.

 

Community Survey

 Community Children Campaign

Working together, kids learn to solve problems and make decisions and successfully contribute to their community. They connect local concerns with global issues and gain an awareness of others. All this will serve them now and years later as they transition out of school and into the adult world!!

Campaign With Community Children