2017 ANNUAL REPORT RIGHTS JESSRE DEDICATED TO THE PROTECTION AND PROMOTION OF HUMAN RIGHTS 119/2 MAHIMA MAHAL, JAIL ROAD, JESSORE, BANGLDESH. Phone: +88 04217400, email: [email protected], Website: www.rightsjessore.org Message For Rights Jessore (RJ ) 2017 is the remarkable year of making steady progress to fulfill its goal and Mission . From the very beginning of its journey. Rights Jessore is dedicated to the protection and promotion of human Rights particularly for vulnerable people in the society. Since then RJ has been emphasizing on networking, capacity building of the stakeholders, Community involvement in the development process and documentations of human rights violations incidents to create an enabling environment for the prevention and protection of human rights particularly for the vulnerable people in the society. Since then RJ has been emphasizing on networking, capacity building of the stakeholders, community involvement in the development process and documentations of human rights violations incidents to create an enabling environment for the prevention and protection of human rights. The organization has always been a catalyst to bring the community voice to the policy makers which helps hasten the development process. About two decades of its effort for introducing innovation in program approach and remarkable achievements in the field of prevention and protection of human trafficking made RJ a specialized organization of its genre. This annual Report highlights the major initiatives and achievements of Rights Jessore for the year 2017. The readers will also get some useful information from the report about the survivors. Rights Jessore works for, and their struggle, enthusiasm and hard work for better life. In this connection, we are thankful to the members of the Executive Committee and General Body of Rights Jessore who provided us the strategic directions and contributed in developing the policy guidelines. We are expressing our gratitude the development partners including donors and international agencies who provided us financial and technical assistance to move forward. We believe that the achievements of Rights Jessore are the result of concerted efforts of the beneficiaries of the organization. We are grateful to the stakeholders for their efforts and contribution towards our development initiatives. I would also like to thanks Mr. Binoy Krishna Mallick for his dedication and dynamic leadership for the great contribution to promote human rights in Bangladesh under the umbrella of RJ. Finally, special thanks go to all the staff who has really worked hard to uphold the mission of the organization. I wish that cooperation from all would help us make things better in the coming years With thanks and best wishes to all. Advocate Aleya Afroz President Rights Jessore RJ Annual Report-2017 Page 2 of 95 Foreword I am pleased to present the annual Report of Rights Jessore for the years 2017 to the members of Rights Jessore family, donor, international agencies, different stakeholders of Rights Jessore including governmental officials and development partners and networking organizations. Rights Jessore has been implementing different program/projects for improving the human rights situation in Bangladesh particularly to improve human rights situation of the most vulnerable section in the society. The multi- pronged efforts are promoting programs related to combating human trafficking, Promotion of safe migration, promotion and protection of human rights etc. Rights Jessore implementing its programs through capacity building of the stakeholders and networking NGO’s human rights education, establish social safety net at grassroots level, providing hotline support etc. This approach helps its beneficiaries in finding their way of life in a better situation. Executive Committee members and General Body has been continually contributing to Rights Jessore’s organizational growth and development. I express my sincere thanks and gratitude to the members for their contributions in developing policies and guidelines for implementing its program/projects. I would also like to express my appreciation to donor’s different organizations and the networking NGOs/CBOs community to help achieve the goal and objective of Rights Jessore . My sincere thanks go to our stakeholders and beneficiaries for their sincere support and continued cooperation to Rights Jessore. Finally, I would like to thank my colleagues for their dedication and hard work to achieve the goal of Rights Jessore. I hope the annual Report 2017 will serve as good sources of information on Rights Jessore for all concerned. Binoy Krishna Mallick Executive Director Rights Jessore RJ Annual Report-2017 Page 3 of 95 Rights Jessore is a leading human rights organization in Bangladesh dedicated to protection and promotion of human rights. A group of philanthropic persons from different professional groups formed Rights Jessore in 1991 to uphold human rights of the people of Bangladesh with special focus on disadvantaged women and children. Since its inception Rights Jessore has been emphasizing on networking, capacity building of the stakeholders and documentations of human rights violations incidents to create an enabling environment for the prevention and protection of human rights. Till date wide range of advocacy and capacity building initiatives have been implemented on women and child rights, promoting good governance, safe migration promotion, health rights, civic and voter education, HIV/AIDS prevention and generic human rights issues. Rights Jessore believes in ensuring community participation in the development process. The organization has always been a catalyst to bring the community voice to the policy makers which helps hasten the development process. About two decades of its effort for introducing innovation in program approach and remarkable achievements in the field of prevention of human trafficking made Rights Jessore a specialized organization of its genre. Our community mobilization initiatives have been internationally recognized and awarded by Arab Gulf Fund for United Nations. Legal Status of the Organization: Rights Jessore is registered with the NGO Affairs Bureau Registration No. 1303 dated on 26 October 1998 and Social Service Department Registration no. 303 dated on 21 March 1993. Vision Rights Jessore envisages a society in Bangladesh where every human being irrespective cast, creed, religion, color, culture, gender, and profession living with human dignity and free from all sorts of human rights violation. Mission The Mission of Rights Jessore is to protect the human rights of all people especially women and children by building awareness, creating sensitivity among the duty bearers and establishing good governance. Core Values: Rights Jessore’s actions are driven by the principles of equity, sustainability and environmental protection. Rights Jessore as a development change maker preach and practices certain organizational Values. Activity encourage its people to reach to their highest potential Practice high degree of self –discipline Mutual respect and trust Cost consciousness Honesty and integrity RJ Annual Report-2017 Page 4 of 95 Rights Jessore's Thematic Areas: ■ Human Rights: From the very beginning Rights Jessore strongly holds the spirit of Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR).Rights Jessore is working for elimination of distinction of any kind, such as race, color, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status. We work for the right to life, liberty and security of person. We demand equal protection of the law. We are against torture, cruelty, inhuman or degrading treatment, or punishment. We are for freedom of thought, equal property rights, freedom of expression and opinion and all the issues covered by universal declaration. ■ Anti-trafficking Human Trafficking is one of the brutal business and heinous crime. Rights Jessore is active against this crime from its inception. Rescue, recovery, repatriation, reintegration, legal aid, advocacy, community mobilization all are covered under this thematic area. From the point of perspective of donor support it is the biggest area of operation. ■ Safe Migration Promotion: During the Course of Action Rights Jessore has identified "Unsafe Labor Migration" as a major area what should be dealt with separately as an independent issue. Although there is close link between human trafficking and unsafe migration but due to difference in definition and legal implication it is essential to deal the problem separately. ■ Women Rights & Women Empowerment Women are half of the population but due to their social status and position they are subject to frequent abuse, torture and violations. Rights Jessore strongly believes in the equal opportunity of women; they should enjoy the freedom of life without the fear of being abused, tortured, trafficked or killed. Rights Jessore dedicated to make sure women's participations in social programming so that they are empowered in the community and can defend their rights. ■ Child Rights: Children are the future leader of the nation. Rights Jessore is against any form of violation against children. We believe in the safe, secured and violence free environment for every child with adequate opportunity for their education and development. ■ Good Governance: In principle Rights Jessore promotes good governance and the issue has been a part of organizational focus area.