GHRD’s partners in South Asia observe International Human Rights Day

On 10 December 2009, GHRD’s partners in South Asia organised different events to observe the International Human Rights Day under the theme of Empowerment and Civil Participation of Women and/or Children, with the aim to enhance civil society participation to empower and strengthen the identity and self-image of marginalised women in society. The activities of the partners are documented below reflecting the success of their actions and commitment in the field.

BIHR, BRCT, GHRD, NHRDA Jointly Celebrates the International Human Rights Day-2009

Notice: Invitation for attending the International Human Rights day 09 Celebration events

Dear friends,

Greeting from BIHR

Bangladesh Institute of Human Rights (BIHR), Bangladesh Rehabilitation Centre for Trauma Victims (BRCT), Naogaon Human Rights development association (NHRDA) and Global Human Rights Defence (GHRD) is jointly going to celebrate International Human Rights Day 2009( 10 December) at Dhaka and Naogaon. A human chain followed by the rally in front of National Press Club at 10. am, a discussion meeting at Dhaka reporter unity building at 11. am and a street drama, in front of Shaheed Meenar around at 4.00 pm would be organized as the part of the celebration of International Human Rights day 2009.

NEWS: BRCT Offers Training Opportunity for the Adibashi (Tribes/ Indigenous) Students

A nationally well-known health and human rights based organization and Bangladesh Rehabilitation Centre for Trauma Victims (BRCT), under the project of “Treatment and Rehabilitation of Adibashi (tribes/ Indigenous) Victims of Torture and Organized Violence in Bangladesh” with financial assistance of European Delegation in Bangladesh, in cooperation with Bangladesh Institute of Human Rights (BIHR) is please to announce of training programme on Health and Human Rights for Adibashi students. The main objective of the training is to develop a cadre of trainers among Adibashi students on health and human rights. The duration of the course will be two week long. The course curriculum will be focused on different heath and human rights issues which are related to daily livelihood of Adibashi community.

URGENT APPEAL: BANGLADESH:UPDATE Ensure the protection of human rights defender: Shahanur Islam Saikot.

18 August 2009 The Hague 

 URGENT APPEAL: [UPDATE] BANGLADESH:UPDATE Ensure the protection of human rights defender: Shahanur Islam Saikot.[UA-BA-2009-08-18] ------------------------------

ISSUES: Threats, death threats to human rights defenders; impunity ------------------------------------------------------ 

 BANGLADESH: Ensure the protection of human rights defender: Shahanur Islam Saikot. Dear Friends, Global Human Rights Defence (GHRD) would like to update you on the recent developments in the case of Shahanur Islam, a human rights defender and lawyer in Bangladesh. We are pleased to inform you that a police investigation has been initiated into the threats made against Mr Islam. However, there has also been a new recent incident of intimidation on August 16, 2009. Mr. Islam received another intimidating phone call, this time threatening him with imprisonment and with the false implication in a criminal case. 

FACT FINDING REPORT:Human Rights Defender & Lawyer Mr. Shahanur Islam Received Threat of Arrest with False & concocted Drug Case

Date: August 17, 2009 

 Fact Finding Case: BIHR-HRD-06-09 

  Bangladesh Institute of Human Rights has been received a fact finding report regarding to intimidation of Mr. Shahanur Islam, Programme Manager of Legal and Human Rights Affairs at the Bangladesh Institute of Human Rights (BIHR) and Bangladesh Rehabilitation Centre for Trauma Victims (BRCT) by cell phone. According to the information received, there was no action taken by the police authorities. 

  BIOGRAPHIC INFORMATION: Name of the Victim :Mr. Shahanur Islam, Programme Manager of Legal and Human Rights Affairs at the Bangladesh Institute of Human Rights (BIHR) and Bangladesh Rehabilitation Centre for Trauma Victims (BRCT, General Secretary and Executive Director of Bangladesh centre for Human Rights and Development (BCHRD). During the time of his duties, he moved many cases against the perpetrators as a lawyer and some of them have been punished. He also conducted many investigations and fact-finding missions on human rights violations as well as issued local and international urgent appeals requesting attention to concerned authorities. Name of the Perpetrators : Mr. Sagor, Mohakhali, Dhaka, Bangladesh Date of Incident : August 16, 2009, early in the morning around at 12.21 am Cell phone Number of the perpetrator: 01675029018 

NEWS:An Investigation Has Been Started Regarding to Receive Continuous Threats against Mr. Shahanur Islam Saikot

You will be happy to know that an investigation has been started regarding to receive continuous threats against Mr. Shahanur Islam Saikot, Advocate and Human Rights Defender by unidentified person after receiving letter from Asian Centre for Progress of People (ACPP), Hong Kong. According to direction of Inspector General of Police of Bangladesh, Mr. Aminul Islam, Inspector of Police, Special Branch (SCO), Dhaka has started the investigation on august 04, 2009. During the investigation he met with Mr. Islam and collect all document regarding the case and assured him to find out the perpetrators as well as take other necessary steps to bring the culprits before the book.

NEWS: Human Chain Demanding on Exemplery Punishment and Compensation

Bangladesh Institute of Human Rights (BIHR) along with Bangladesh Rehabilitation Centre for Trauma Victims (BRCT) has been organized a Human Chain demanding exemplary punishment to the culprit who are directly or indirectly involve with production and marketing of adultery Paracetamol Sysup; Ensuring adequate financial compensation as well as physical and psychological integrity of the family member of the victims who were died after taking adultery Paracetamol Sysup on July 30, 2009 from 12.00-13.00 pm in front the National Press Club, Dhaka, Bangladesh. During the programme more than 100 people were

NEWS: Human Chain

Bangladesh Institute of Human Rights (BIHR) along with Bangladesh Rehabilitation Centre for Trauma Victims (BRCT) is going to organized a Human Chain demanding exemplary punishment to the culprit who are directly or indirectly involve with production and marketing of adultery Paracetamol Sysup; Ensuring adequate financial compensation as well as physical and psychological integrity of the family member of the victims who were died after taking adultery Paracetamol Sysup tomorrow on July 30, 2009 from 12.00-13.00 pm in front the National Press Club, Dhaka, Bangladesh.

UEGENT APPEAL: Human rights situation in Camp Ashraf-Iraq

Ms. Navi Pillay

High Commissioner for Human Rights

United Nations

Geneva/ Switzerland

Subject: Human rights situation in Camp Ashraf-Iraq

Dear Ms. Pillay

Since January 1^st, 2009, when the protection of Camp Ashraf in Iraq has been transferred from US forces to the Iraqi government, the international community is faced with an increasing anxiety over the violation of the most basic rights of 3500 people in Camp Ashraf who 1000 of them are women. Ashraf is home to the members of the Iranian opposition, People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI).

FACT-FINDING REPORT: Attacked on the Village of Indigenous People to Grab Land and Pond: Many of Them Assaulted

The news headed on “Attacked on the Village of Indigenous People to Grab Land and Pond: Many of Them Assaulted” at Dulahar village in Nachole upazila under Chapai Nababgong district was published on the daily “Prothom Alo” as well as other most of the Bengali and English daily news paper in Bangladesh on 23 June 2009. The news came to knowledge at the concern authority of Bangladesh Institute of Human Rights (BIHR) and a fact-finding investigation mission has been conducted by a team of Bangladesh BIHR & NHRD comprising Md. Ehshanul Haque and Md. Abu Musha Ashowary from June 29 to 30, 2009. The information that has been collected by the mission is given bellow:

URGENT APPEAL: Bangladesh: Indigenous (tribal) girl raped and murdered in CHT [UA-BA-09.2009]

The Hague, 9 July 2009 

 URGENT APPEAL [UA-BA-09.2009] BANGLADESH: Indigenous (tribal) girl raped and murdered in CHT. ------------------------------------------------------ 

 ISSUES: Rape, killing, protection of minorities and women. ------------------------------------------------------ 

 Dear friends, 

 Global Human Rights Defence (GHRD) has received a fact-finding report from Bangladesh Institute of Human Rights (BIHR) who investigated the brutal rape and killing of a young indigenous girl by a Bengali guard in the Bandarban District, Bangladesh. Maching Khai Marma (18) was raped then killed with a brick at around 5.30.pm on May 8, 2009. A 13-year old boy witnessed the incident from a nearby forest. FACT DETAILS: Name of the Victim :Maching Khai Marma (18) Adress of the Victim :Vill: Remong Member Para, 305, Gojalia Village, Union: Gojalia, Police Station: lam, District: Bandarban.. Name& Address of the perpetrator: withheld Date of the Incident: : 08 May 2009, at around 5.30 PM Place of Incident : Rejected brick field of Najmul Islam, Vill: Atmile Muslim Para, 305, Gojalia, Police Station: Lama, District: Bandarban. Case file : Lama Police Station Case Number: 03/45 Date of Case : 09 May, 2009 around at 11.30 PM Under Section : 302 of Penal Code 

FCAT FINDING REPORT: AN INDIGENOUS (TRIBAL) GIRL HAS BEEN MURDER AFTER RAPAE BY A BANGALI LETCHER.

The news headed “A marma girl murdered after rape: Demand exemplary punishment” was published the daily prothom alo as well as other most of the Bengali and English dailies on 13 may 2009. The news came to knowledge at the concern authority of Bangladesh Institute of Human Rights (BIHR) and a fact-finding mission has been conducted by a team of Bangladesh BIHR & BCHRD comprising Adv. Shahanur Islam Saikot, Programme Manager of Legal & Human Rights affairs and Shohel Ahmed from May 24 to 29,2009. 

URGENT APPEAL: A young tribal man torture to death by military forces at Shuvalong under Rangamati district in Bangladesh.

BANGLADESH INSTITUTE OF HUMAN RIGHTS URGENT APPEAL PROGRAMME

URGENT APPEAL CASE: BIHR-IUA-29-06-2009

BANGLADESH: A young tribal man torture to death by military forces at Shuvalong under Rangamati district in Bangladesh.

========================================

DATE: June 30, 2009

ISSUES: Arbitrary arrest; torture, extrajudicial killing and impunity

=========================================

Dear Friends

Bangladesh Institute of Human Rights has been received a report from its reliable network organization regarding a tribal Youngman torture to death at Shuvalong under Rangamati district in Bangladesh by military forces. Though the victim family demanded to make a credible investigation to bring the allege perpetrators before justice, yet no proper action has been taken by the concern authority.

URGENT APPEAL: BANGLADESH: A young tribal man torture to death by military forces at Shuvalong under Rangamati district in Bangladesh.

BANGLADESH INSTITUTE OF HUMAN RIGHTS URGENT APPEAL PROGRAMME

URGENT APPEAL CASE: BIHR-IUA-29-06-2009

 BANGLADESH: A young tribal man torture to death by military forces at Shuvalong under Rangamati district in Bangladesh. ======================================== 

 DATE: June 29, 2009 ISSUES: Arbitrary arrest; torture, extrajudicial killing and impunity ========================================= 

 Dear Friends 

 Bangladesh Institute of Human Rights has been received a fact finding report from its reliable network organization regarding a tribal Youngman torture to death at Shuvalong under Rangamati district in Bangladesh by military forces. Though the victim family demanded to make a credible investigation to bring the allege perpetrators before justice, yet no proper action has been taken by the concern authority. 

NEWS: BIHR along with BRCT Celebrate the International Day in Support of Victims of Torture

Bangladesh Institute of Human Rights (BIHR) along with Bangladesh Rehabilitation Centre for Trauma Victims (BRCT), Human Rights Development Centre-HRDC in cooperation with European commission celebrate the International Day in Support of Victims of Torture by organize a view exchange meeting on “Together against Torture & Organized Violence on Indigenous / Tribal People” from 12.00pm -2.00 pm on June 26, 2009 at Reporters Unity Conference Room, Sagun Bagicha, Dhaka.

URGENT APPEAL: BANGLADESH: Ensure the protection of human rights defender: Shahanur Islam Saikot.

25 June 2009 

 The Hague 

 URGENT APPEAL: [UPDATE] BANGLADESH: Ensure the protection of human rights defender: Shahanur Islam Saikot. [UA-BA-2009-06-26] ------------------------------------------------------ 

 ISSUES: Threats, death threats to human rights defenders; impunity ------------------------------------------------------ 

 BANGLADESH: Ensure the protection of human rights defender: Shahanur Islam Saikot. Dear Friends, Global Human Rights Defence (GHRD) has received updated information regarding the continuous serious threats to Shahanur Islam, a human rights defender and lawyer in Bangladesh. The latest incident of intimidation occurred on 15-16 June 2009. Mr. Islam received a threatening phone call thrice within an hour, on 15 June; and at 12:00am on 16 June respectively. The caller used foul language, which carried the message of sexual harassment towards Mr. Islam’s female members of his family. He also threatened Mr. Islam that he could ‘attack him at any time’. Despite Mr. Islam’s efforts, there has still been no action taken by the police authorities. Also, the concerned police stations are trying to discourage him to file charges.