What We Do
Our approach to legal aid is community-centred. We work with grassroots organisations representing farmers and agricultural workers, industrial and factory workers, small-scale fishers, women, children, minorities, people living in poverty in urban and rural communities, and rural journalists. Our casework addresses violence against women, children, and minorities, as well as torture, organised violence, and other serious human rights violations.
Our Programmes and Services
- Legal research: We compile, organise, and monitor laws, policies, official statements, and other government actions relevant to our work.
- Paralegal training: We provide training to strengthen community knowledge and access to justice.
- Legislative and policy reform: We support grassroots organisations to prepare position papers, propose legislation, and develop implementation guidelines, and to present these proposals to the relevant authorities.
- Press advocacy and urgent action: We raise awareness of human rights violations through the media and send appeals to relevant authorities and institutions.
- Fact-finding missions: We document alleged human rights violations and prepare impartial reports.
- Legal literacy: We publish handbooks and training materials on human rights and access to justice.
Legal Assistance
We provide empathetic legal counselling and direct legal assistance. Depending on the case, this may include seeking bail or release from custody, filing cases against alleged perpetrators, and pursuing public interest litigation (PIL). We prioritise people who face barriers to justice because of poverty or limited access to legal information.
Direct Legal Aid
Direct legal support for victims is a central part of our work. We assist victims in seeking release from jail or custody, bringing cases against alleged perpetrators, and using public interest litigation to protect and promote human rights. We also assist people seeking legal remedies for alleged violations by law-enforcement agencies.
- Shahanur Records Another Success in His Bid to Free Bangladesh from Torture — JusticeMakers, 10 January 2011
- JusticeMaker Shahanur Islam Works to Resolve Case of Unlawful Arrest — JusticeMakers, 20 October 2010
- Warrants Issued for Arrest of Four Policemen Alleging Torture in Remand — JusticeMakers, 23 September 2010
Legal Counselling
Through legal awareness programmes, we explain applicable laws and constitutional and international human rights standards. This information helps victims understand their rights and the remedies available to them.
Fact-Finding and Investigation
We use fact-finding to assess reports of torture and other human rights violations, hear from victims and relevant sources, and prepare impartial reports. These reports can support efforts to secure justice and are shared with the appropriate authorities.
Urgent Appeals
Based on documented information, we issue urgent appeals nationally and internationally through post, fax, and email. The programme aims to share timely, accurate information about alleged violations, raise awareness, and encourage action toward an effective resolution.
Training, Seminars, and Workshops
We build the capacity of victims, professionals, students, survivors, and our staff through training, seminars, and workshops on human rights, good governance, peace, democracy, and legal empowerment. We also take part in learning opportunities that strengthen our own work.
- Training on Torture and Human Rights in Bangladesh — JusticeMakers, 25 October 2010
- EU Conference on Protecting Minority Rights in South Asia — CHT Archive, 19 January 2012
- Minority Rights in South Asia in Focus at Brussels Conference — SASNET, 6 February 2012
- Symposium: Grassroots Protection of Minority Rights — JusticeMakers, 16 March 2012
Lobbying, Campaigns, and Advocacy
We advocate for stronger implementation of international human rights standards, including the removal of reservations to human rights conventions and ratification of relevant optional protocols. We engage government authorities, diplomatic missions, and professionals, and organise public awareness activities around significant human rights observances. These activities may include signature campaigns, rallies, human chains, discussions, and roundtables.
Research and Monitoring
We monitor the human rights situation in Bangladesh and publish periodic reports, including our State of Human Rights reporting. By sharing documented findings, we seek to encourage appropriate action by the authorities and strengthen public understanding of human rights violations.
Documentation
Our documentation work brings together information from newspapers, local publications, news websites, civil society organisations, network members, fact-finding teams, and victims. We organise and preserve this material to support research, reporting, and advocacy. Our areas of documentation include:
- Violence against LGBTQI+ people and other sexual minorities
- Deaths, rape, and torture involving law-enforcement agencies
- Violence against lawyers, journalists, and human rights defenders
- Impunity and abuse of national security laws
- Organised political violence
- Violence and repression targeting ethnic and religious minorities
- Death sentences, verdicts, and executions
- Human rights in the Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT)
- Border-related conflict and violence
Publications
We use our website, social media, and print materials to share human rights information and experiences. Our publications include periodic human rights situation reports and, as appropriate, leaflets, posters, stickers, handbills, research papers, and books.
2010 JusticeMaker Shahanur Islam Publishes Flyer — JusticeMakers, 3 June 2011
Good Governance
We regard good governance as essential to protecting human rights. We promote public discussion through seminars, symposiums, meetings, signature campaigns, and exchanges of views.
Institution Building and Prevention
We develop preventive initiatives to address human rights abuses, including torture by law-enforcement agencies and organised violence. We also work to strengthen the institutions and community networks that support rights protection.
Networking
We work with human rights organisations, embassies, professional associations, civil society groups, and individuals in Bangladesh and internationally. This cooperation helps build support for preventing violations and advancing accountability. Our historical collaborations and contacts have included organisations such as REDRESS, the International Rehabilitation Council for Torture Victims (IRCT), the World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT), Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ), and regional and United Nations human rights bodies.
Hotline
Our hotline receives information about human rights violations from victims, their families, network members, and others. It is intended to help us learn about incidents promptly and consider an appropriate response.
Hotline: +33 (0)7 83 95 23 15
