The Annual Conference of the Community Based Organizations (CBOs) which ASK facilitates was held between the 5th and 7th of February 2014 in Manikganj. The theme was “Jani Alo Ashbei” (Certainly there  will be light).

The conference brought together various human rights groups from the grass root level. They participated in several discussions and shared experiences of their role as human rights defenders in their localities.

CBOs also launched a publication named as the similar theme- “Jani Alo Ashbei” which included experiences of grass roots level human rights defenders and their struggles for the promotion and protection of human rights. They also highlighted different aspects of their engagement with the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) and the Information Commission in this endeavour.

The conference was dedicated to Nelson Mandela – the South African anti-apartheid leader and a global advocate of human rights, who has died on 5 December 2013.

Engagement with National Human Rights Commission

A report, focusing on the activities of CBOs through the Task forces (which have been formed in 2012 to assist local people in lodging complaint to the NHRC) was presented. It covered the experiences of the task force members and the difficulties they faced in filing complaint to NHRC. The report also highlighted the expectations from the NHRC.

Khalilur Rahman, member of Manobadhikar Sangrakhan Parishad of Pabna, said that “NHRC was informed about the jail condition of Pabna specially the mismanagement of the jail. People are waiting to see the result that the condition of the jail has improved”.

Zahid Hossain, Monitoring and Investigation Expert, Bangladesh National Human Rights Commission Capacity Building Programme (BNHRC-CDP) attended the conference. He admitted that, NHRC is a new institution and it has some specific limitations. He acknowledged that the enabling law has some weaknesses and the NHRC has prepared a review of the law in consultation with relevant stakeholders which will be placed to the relevant authority very soon. He committed to forward all recommendations to the NHRC.

Sultana Kamal, Executive Director of ASK, chaired the session. In her concluding speech she highlighted that the community people are aware of their human rights and they all want to strengthen the NHRC. She emphasized that the NHRC law should be amended in accordance with the Paris principles-the global standard for National Institutions.

Engagement with the Information Commission (IC)

CBOs also presented report on their activities related to the right to information, followed by a discussion.

Chief Commissioner of the Information Commission, Mohammad Farooq expressed his satisfaction observing the awareness level of the community people. He also assured of any assistance to the CBOs.

Struggles of Women Human Rights Defenders

The women HRDs largely discussed on the topics i.e. domestic violence, violation of women’s rights, women’s participation in decision making process and the imposition of decision by the religious extremists in the name of Fatwa.

In their working areas, several women have made the transition from being a party of salish to serve as a saliskar. Some women salishkars have won sufficient trust to be requested by Chairmen of Union Parishads to take their place when they are not able to attend a salish.

Women defenders face various threats.  In the publication “Jani Alo Ashbei”, there is a story of a woman salishkar who was physically attacked and injured; her crops were destroyed as she protested violence against a woman in her community during the salish. She remains undaunted and continues to do her work.

After their discussion Dr. Hameeda Hossain, one of the founding members of ASK and Sultana Kamal, the ED of ASK concluded.

‘ASK gets strength from you. We are honest and transparent, that’s why we are marching together and this togetherness will ensure the dignity of human being and teach us how to protect our rights. The violators should know that they are violating rights and this violation is a crime’’, said Sultana Kamal.

Dr. Hameeda Hossain expressed that, ‘’the patriarchal mindset of the men provoked them to commit violence against women. Women should know how to take decision independently and how to take actions against these violence.” She appreciated the community people for taking so many risks and threats in promoting women rights in the community and thanked them for being with ASK for a long time.