Legal Education and Gender
Awareness
1.Introduction
This
Report covered progress activities under Legal Education and Gender Aware
Leadership Programme for the period of June 2007- May 2008. The LEGAL programme
is covering 260 federation of 29 Sub-district under six Districts in Northwest Bangladesh.
2.
Background
In
Bangladesh violence in women’s life and gender-based discrimination against
women is a common phenomenon and it can be many forms, like- sexual, physical
and mental economic and emotional abuse. Women are far behind then the man.
Socio-cultural, religious and traditional believes are the main factors behind
this. Gender is an important analytical tool for planning, management,
monitoring and evaluation of the development programme and project. Bangladesh
government considering the issues from the very beginning and in the
constitution of the peoples Republic of Bangladesh, 1972 and includes the
welfare of women in different articles. Besides, different organizations also
working towards to minimize the gender gap and to reduce the gender based
violence.
A NGO is always working to
improve women situation at household and community level. Provides support to
women and gender related activities and this has been incorporated in all areas
of interventions/activities In order to address women’s human rights at all
levels after completion the LEGAL project phase I A NGO is now implementing the
Legal Education and Gender Aware Leadership (LEGAL) programme phase II with
support of Royal Netherlands Embassy, Dhaka, Bangladesh.
3.Executive Summary:
The Legal
Education and Gender Aware Leadership (LEGAL) programme - phase-II was lunched
after successful completion of LEGAL Programme phase-I. The report covered progress activities under
Legal Education and Gender Aware Leadership Programme for the period of June
2007 – May 2008. The strategic priority of this project is to address the legal
and institutional issues which includes birth registration, marriage
registration, early marriage, marriage without registration, dowry etc. and
gender based violence i.e. rape, sexual exploitation, domestic and physical
violence, acid throwing, trafficking and prevention and protection services
including capacity building, access and referral, communication, networking,
advocacy, partnership, and monitoring, evaluation and research. During the
reporting period the following activities was carried out by A NGO Bangladesh.
Working area: Northwest Region of
Bangladesh: Six districts (kurigram, Lalmonirhat, Nilphamari, Dinajpur,
Thakurgaon and Panchagarh) covering 29 sub-district and 260 Federations.
Programme participants: 260 Federations including
their members and associated NGO network, Union Parishad members and community.
Project vision: To work towards the elimination
of gender based violence and for the promotion and protection of women’s rights
in Northwest Bangladesh.
The project aim: To reduce gender-based
violence, promote, and protect women’s rights through strategic prevention, and
access and referral activities that addresses
·
Legal and institutional framework issues such as birth registration,
marriage registration and prohibition of early marriage and dowry
·
Gender based violence issues such as rape, sexual abuse, acid throwing,
and domestic violence.
4. Project objectives:
To reduce gender based violence and promote and
protect women’s rights through support for the following:
·
Empowered women: Women are empowered through information on rights and violence issues
and access to legal, medical and support services
·
Informed communities: Local communities- through their Federation and
networks- are informed and empowered to promote and protect women’s rights and
address gender based violence
·
Active partnerships: Informed, collaborative partnership at international, national,
regional and local level work effectively to reduce gender based violence and
promote and protect women rights
·
Accessible, responsive services: Public and related services deliver sensitive,
appropriate services that promote and protect women’s rights
·
Sustainable, integrated provision: A NGO/LEGAL services are integrated,
outcome focused, evidence based and sustainable.
5. Introduction on programme approach:
The project aims to become
more strategic, outcome focused/oriented and evidence based and strong focus on
capacity building and awareness rising of different stakeholders including
Union Parishad to allow a number of activities under LEGAL project that are
governmental responsibilities to be mainstreamed.
It is also noted that the
process of moving to planning activities strategically for maximum impact is a
long and gradual. It will be necessary to build capacity at the same time with
rolling out this programme.
In the working area some
common approach has been taken place likely –
·
Need assessment
·
Checking for evidence of effectiveness
·
Reviewing and re-visiting current programmes
·
Developing partnership
·
Implementing programmes
·
Monitoring and reviewing
6.
Progress summary:
§
A youth group
plays a significance role to increase social awareness. The LEGAL programme
also giving priority to sensitize the youth groups through different way, like-
more than 2000 girls and goys students oriented on human rights, gender and
child rights related issues under 14 school and collages.
§
Three networking meeting organized with
Federation/Civic forum, where 46 women and 114 man leaders were participated.
On the other hand, 3 networking meeting was organized for NGOs/local partners,
where 44 women and 110 man from different NGO participated.
§
An advocacy workshop was organized with different
stakeholders. Deputy commissioner of Thakurgoan was present as chief guest.
Medical specialist, journalists, law-years, NGO representatives were
participated in this workshop. At the end of the workshop all are committed to
work jointly or individually for any type of violence against women and
children.
§
In the reporting period 63 Peoples Theater was
staged on different issues such as dowry, early marriage protection and
combating human trafficking with more than 13,660 women and man were present.
Peoples Theater is the most effective media for community mobilization and
sensitization.
§
During the reporting period 69 public hearing
session were conducted on protection of women’s rights and to ensure
accountability at all level and increased community awareness, where Union
Parishad (lowest tier of government administration) Chairperson and members,
religious leaders, students, Federation leaders, women from local community,
school & collage teachers were participated.
§
During the period 2933 mediation cases successfully
dealt by the Federation mediation committee. Most of the cases husband and
the family members of husband tortured physically and mentally for dowry,
polygamy and illegal marital affairs.
§
In the reporting period 3 quarterly news letter, 2
training modules on gender and development and Litigation and court procedure,
and project out come related study report has been published and distributed
among the different stakeholders.
§
During the reporting period 99 court cases were
supported by the LEGAL Project. 21 new
cases were filed during this period and 38 cases were solved in favor of
victims. It is also noted that most of the cases referred by the Mediation Committee
or professional forums were punishable and complicated cases.
7. Some Major Achievements:
Networking meeting with
federation/ civic forums;
During this period 3
networking meeting were organized at Dinajpur, Panchagorh and Nilphamari
district. The representative of Upazila Federation, Upazila Professional forums
and CBO were present in the meeting. A Bi-law also finalized by committee
members. Through the meeting some issues have been selected for the integration
of their won programme, like- protects the dowry, early marriage, hilla,
polygamy, trafficking, sexual exploitation, etc. The committee also formed as
executive committee and general committee.
Networking meeting with
other organizations/local partner and NGO:
In the reporting period 12
Districts networking meeting was organized at Lalmonirhat, Kurigram.
Panchagarh, Thakurgoan, Dinajpur and Nilphamari district on protection and
promotion of women and child rights. Different NGO / Federation/ CBOs and local
representatives, journalist and government representatives were participated in
these networking meeting. A Bi-law also finalized during this period. Through
the meeting the committee also formed in each district. All NGO representatives
are committed to share their recourse for the betterment of empowering women.
A NGO also maintains good
relationship with Govt. officials and involved in different committee, like-
district task force committee, district legal aid committee, jail visit
committee, etc. To compare the past (last 5-6 years) have many positive trend/
changes. Through the joint effort some union already covered 100% birth
registration and Lalmonirhat district declared that the district already
covered 100% and now the programme as mainstreaming programme for all. In the
reporting period 8 court cases referred to Panchagarh district legal aid
committee most of the previous cases already solved in favor of victims, which
was referred by the Federation Mediation Committee (up to 2006 36 cases was
referred) and other district like, Kurigram, Lalmonirhat, Thakurgaon and
Dinajpur district is in under process.
Workshop with Govt. Health staff
An advocacy
workshop was organized at Lalmonihat and Dinajpur district hospital with the
support of the LEGAL Project. The Civil Surgeons with Residential Medical officers/
Medical officers and Police officers and Journalists were participated in this
workshop. The Residential Medical officer of Kurigram and Dinajpur were present
keynote paper on different investigation cases of women. The workshop was very
effective. All are agreed that in favor of victims they could contribute more.
Some recommendation has come by the participants:
a)
This type of workshop is essential for health and
police staff
b)
The duration is not sufficient, minimum three days
training/ workshop is needed.
c)
In future police staff could be included for common
understanding and to take immediate and appropriate decision.
d)
This type of workshop is needed up to Upazila level.
e)
Follow-up workshop is essential for continuation
At the end
of the workshop all are agreed that gender violence related cases should be
taken on priority basis and Upazila hospital, which is approved by the
government also responsible to investigate the rape case. It is also noted that
the secretary of Health Ministry circulates this information on 2002.
8. Outcome related some activities:
Birth Registration
To establish one’s own
rights birth registration is the key factor for all. Therefore the project has
given priority from the beginning. At this moment Bangladesh government has
also taken it seriously. In the reporting period 744540 births (356845 female, 387695
male) were registered. It is also noted that birth registration is
mandatory for enrollment of Primary school.
To sensitize the community
people Popular Theater, folk-song, public hearing, and school college
orientation were held through the project support. District wise birth
registration report:
Early Marriage Protection:
During the reporting 99 early marriage protected by the initiatives of Union
Parishod, Federation, professional forums and the community peoples.
Mediation
During the reporting period
260 Federations successfully handled a total of 2933 cases In six
districts. Most of the cases were
against husbands or their family members physically and mentally torturing the
women. It was also observed that in many cases women facing lot of violence’s
due to dowry problems. As per the survey report in the last year more than 60%
women were tortured in different ways (physical torture). However, positive
results show that the women now raise their voices and get the problems solved
through Mediation or court cases.
Hilla protection:
During the reporting period
29 Hilla marriages were resisted (“Hilla Marriage” an imposed
Marriage for a transitory period of three months of an wife with someone else
after orally getting divorce),by the Federation mediation committee. Govt.
already declared that hilla marriage is totally illegal but some
religious leaders/ local leaders taking lead to ensure hilla at the
rural area. Through the project, A NGO is trying always to create awareness at
community level and in order to resist this, Federation and professional forums
actively come forward.
Rescue from Jail safe
custody:
33 girls and boys (28 girls
and 5 boys) rescue from different Jail safe custody like Thakurgoan,
Lalmonirhat, Panchagarh and Kurigram districts.
Legal Assistance for clients:
During the reporting period
99 court cases were supported by the LEGAL Project. 21 new cases were filed during this period
and 38 cases were solved in favor of victims. It is also noted that most of the
cases referred by the Mediation Committee or professional forums were
punishable and complicated cases. Moreover the project demands that the
community people would be fully aware and capable to use the existing
government resources and facilities to establish the legal rights. Therefore,
through the project support different workshops, orientations on village court,
Govt. legal aid fund, and facilities of different govt. department especially
police station and hospital were organized. Federation leaders were also
trained on reactivating the different committees. At this moment many
federation leaders were participating in different committee meetings at Union
Parishod (Mediation committee, community policing, disaster Management
Committee, etc.) and the Chairman and Members are also attending different
meetings and mediation sessions. In addition to that federations are referring
cases to village court and district legal aid fund.
It is learnt that one time
Arifa’s Father borowed 16 hundred Taka from alleaged Abu Hossain and went in
Dhaka to earn money by driving Ricksha. So he failed to returned the money in
due time. Therefore Abu frequently visited Arifa’s house and created presser
on her mother to return the money. In
the meantime, Abu targeted Arifa and once upon a time Abu took Arifa from her
house by threated her mother and he forcibly raped Arifa several times in his
brother Kashem Ali's house from 03 to 06 August '06.
At one stage Arifa became ill and she somehow
escaped to the nearby female member house of Rajarhat Sadar Union Parishod
name Muslema and described the incident in detail.
By the by, staffs of A NGO Bangladesh learnt about this
incident and visited the spot on 07 August 06 and immediately (on that day)
took Arifa to the UNO of Rajarhat Upazila in Kurigram.
Hearing the detail the UNO of Rajarhat ordered the
OC (officer-in- Chang) of Rajarhat to file a case in this connection. OC file
a case which NO. Rajarhat Thana 5 and Arifa were quickly taken to Kurigram
Sadar Hospital for medical test.
After that police gave charge sheet against Abu
Hossain under Article 9 (1) of Women and child violence protection law 2003.
Simultaneously a case was registered in the Kurigram court under Women and
child violence protection Law – case file no: Women and child 272/06. But the
police was quite reluctant to take action against the wanted rapist, as he was
powerful in the society. As a result, A NGO Kurigram held a human chain and
rally with the spontanious cooperation of mass people of Rajarhat Upazila and
submitted memorandum to the Deputy Commissioner, Police Super of Kurigram
district and UNO of Rajarhat Upazila.
For security, Arifa stayed at her grandfather’s
home, Kalpona’s (Director of the local NGO GHASHFUL) home and Safe Custody of
Kurigram Thana from 06 to 21 August 2006. According to the verdict of the
Court, the Thana brought her back to her mother. But in unsafe circumstances,
the life of victim was at risk. Following her parents' application and
decission of UNO of Rajarhat, A NGO sent her to Ayin O Shalish Kendro, Dhaka
on 23 August 2007. Now she has been staying there.
Hearing about the verdict Arifa said emotionally
" I have got proper justice with A NGO cooperation. I am grateful to A
NGO Bangladesh". Her parents said, "We are very pleased at this
Judgment". Opining, peace-loving people of Rajarhat said, "It is a
remarkable event for Kurigram District, because the criminals wil be warned
about their further crime".
10. Challenges
·
To reduce Gender Discrimination at all level
·
Ensure peoples movement/ mass mobilization on gender based violence
·
Establish strong and effective network at local level, national level
and regional level
·
Ensure social and legal justice
·
Stop domestic violence against women
·
Stop early marriage, dowry, polygamy, physical torture and sexual
exploitation
11. Conclusion
The nature of the LEGAL Programme is contributing to sustain the
programme activities. Through the project have a scope to involve different
stakeholders, taking different type of initiatives to aware the communities,
and also sensitize them for their active participation. Therefore the project
activity and progress report and publications are being widely circulated and
shared with different stakeholders. The Mediation Committee and professional
forum (Nari Nirjaton protirodh committee) of sub-district and district level
are taking different initiatives, which is very important part for the
integration of the project activities. Youth groups also sensitizing on their
rights and responsibilities through school/collage orientation, rural cinema
shows, public hearing, etc.