Champions Award Ceremony of Protecting Human Rights (PHR) Program was organized at Queen’s Hall in SPECTRA Convention Centre, Gulshan-1, Dhaka on 30 March 2013. Bangladesh National Woman Lawyers’ Association (BNWLA) is implementing PHR program in partnership with Plan Bangladesh and USAID funding support.

Mr Tariq-Ul-Islam, Honorable Secretary, Ministry of Women and Children Affairs (MOWCA) was the Chief Guest in the event. Mr Patrick Bowers, Deputy Director, Democracy and Governance Office, USAID Bangladesh, Dr. Abul Hossain , Project Director, Multi-Sectoral Project on VAW, MoWCA were present as Special Guests. Advocate Salma Ali Executive Director, BNWLA, Mr. Henry Alderfer, PHR- Chief of Party, and Mr Anwar Hossain Shikder , Deputy Country Director, Plan Bangladesh were also present and spoke in the program.

Total 16 persons have been awarded as PHR Champion. Among them 15 were from PHR working area and from different category such as community leader, journalist, human rights activist, local elected representative and social worker. These 15 champions have played tremendous role in combating domestic violence in their own community and they contributed voluntarily and spontaneously. One champion was awarded on special ground beyond PHR area. He is Mr. Hannan Mia from Manikganj who recently saved a girl from being raped in a running Bus. Considering his contribution that led to a remarkable incident in the arena of protecting violence against women, he has been selected to get this honor and award of a PHR champion. Champions were welcomed, received and honored with flower, Uttorio (fabric wearing around the neck, used to give recognition and honor), crest, certificates and prize money given by the guests and speakers of the event.
Appreciating the initiatives of awarding the champions, Mr Tariq-Ul- Islam thanked PHR for taking the steps to end violence especially domestic violence against women.
Advocate Salma Ali wrapped up the program saying that the responsibilities of these champions have been extended a lot as they will lead their community to curb domestic violence and other forms of violence against women.
Representatives from partner organizations, jury board, INGO, NGO and media also attended the award ceremony.

A colorful event was organized on the occasion of celebration of International Women’s Day 2013 on 7March 2013 at Rabindro Sarobar, Dhanmondi, Dhaka. The event was arranged by Bangladesh National Woman Lawyers’ Association (BNWLA) under its Protecting Human Rights (PHR) Program with USAID fund. WATCH (Women and Their Children’s Health) Project of Plan Bangladesh was an organizing partner in this event.

The program was started with Children’s dance, performed by Children of PRASHANTI- BNWLA in the late evening. Next to the dance, Girl Power Network staged Theatre for Development (TFD) on the issue related to consequence of child marriage and how the rights of women are violated in every aspect of their lives. The main attraction of the event was the concert of  Haider Hossain, country’s prominent singer. He has successfully drawn the attention of general mass and delivered messages on woman’s rights, justice and dignity during performing some of his popular songs.

In the middle of the event, there was a discussion focusing the theme of the day “A Promise is a Promise: Time for action to end violence against women”.  Advocate Salma Ali, Executive Director, BNWLA gave a very brief but remarkable speech on women rights and thanked the audience for their presence in the celebration. Executive Committee members of BNWLA, representatives from USAID and Plan Bangladesh also enjoyed the event.

No more silence; Protest immediately’ – with this slogan to prevent Violence Against Women Girl Power Network and BNWLA jointly organized Theater for Development (TFD) and Self Defense (Karate) show on 24 January 2013 at TSC of University of Dhaka. With the support provided by Plan Bangladesh, the Girl Power TFD group and Karate Girls have performed in the event. A leaflet covering information regarding the scenario of VAW and what should to do after the incidence of violence was disseminated. According to the leaflet from 1-20 January, 2013 within this 20 days 46 rape incident, 02 acid violence, 64 murders, 6 sexual harassment, and 25 trafficking have been taken place. Considering this alarming situation specially increasing of rape incident BNWLA along with the network come up the event with the aim to create mass awareness to the young generation. Theater for Development (TFD) show is very effective and easy display to aware Mass People about the concern issue. So, Girl Power Network have shown different types of violence through the TFD and besides that they have shown the Self Defense approach also to show people how to protect themselves from violence. To enhance protection against violence and raise awareness following information were also disseminated – i) Putting enough water on the injured area to victim of acid violence; ii) Victim of rape incident should be taken immediately to the nearest public hospital or Government authorized hospitals as well as informed the concern police station; iii) Victim of rape incident should not take shower before medical verification; iv) Cloths of rape victim should be preserve in paper bag, not in plastic bag.
Adv. Salma Ali, Executive Director, BNWLA, mentioned at her speech that “We are passing a very crucial moment currently. This is very high time for us to protest the growing situation so strongly by coming together. Dhaka University is the place from where we have started all kinds of protest against violence every time. Today we also want to start our journey from here. The Girls and Boys who are performer of the show have developed a Protection Group against violence at their own premises. We also can take lesson from them and build such types of groups at our surroundings also. So, requesting all to get aware about the situation breaking the silence against VAW and take necessary steps for reducing such types of heinous offences.”Md. Abdul Mannan, Dhaka Program Unit Manager, Plan Bangladesh, Mohammad Masud, Manager, GPP, Plan Bangladesh, Md. Nazrul Islam, Capacity Building Specialist, Plan Bangladesh, Md. Forhad Uddin, Monitoring And Evaluation Coordinator, Plan Bangladesh, Sadia Tasneem, Capacity Building Coordinator, representatives from CSOs of Girl Power Network, Girl Forum members, Zone wise Child Protection Groups, Local elites, Teachers, Students, Adv. Mitali Jahan, Program Manager, BNWLA, Ishrat Jahan Biju, Sr. Advocacy Officer, BNWLA, Flowra Akter, Advocacy Officer, BNWLA, Girl Power Team, BNWLA and mass people have enjoyed the program. From electronic media Channel- I, Masranga TV and from print media The Daily Amar Desh, The Daily Prothom Alo was coverage the program. The Daily Amar Desh has published the news at their newspaper dated 25th January 2013.

On the occasion of celebration of International Human Rights Day 2012, Bangladesh National Woman Lawyers’ Association in collaboration with Plan Bangladesh, with the funding support of USAID, organized a television program with the technical support of Bangla TV Channel ATN News, titled” Dialogue on Prevention of Domestic Violence and Protection of Human Rights”‘ on 7 December 2012 at the School ground adjacent to Raynagar Union Parishad Complex under Shibganj Upazila in Bogra district.
PHR program stakeholders and other concerned people attended the program and asked various questions on domestic violence and human rights issues through video conference to Mr Ashraf Hossain, Director General, Department of Women Affairs, Ministry of Women and Children Affairs, who was present at the ATN News Studio and he gave answers and his opinions. He suggested everyone to play role in enforcement of Domestic Violence (prevention and protection) Act 2010 from own stand. He emphasized the importance of gender equality to build a domestic violence free and human rights based society. And he committed on behalf of Government to provide training on the legal procedure of Domestic Violence Act to the concerned Government Officers. Adv Salma Ali, Executive Director , BNWLA was the moderator at Raynagar and Munni Shaha, Head of News, ATN News moderated the program sitting at ATN News Studio.
The recorded dialogue was telecasted on 10 December 2012, International Human Rights Day and 11 December 2012 in two episodes as special episodes of “Connecting Bangladesh”, regular program of ATN News Channel.
Survivors of domestic Violence who got assistance from PHR program and their family, local Member of Parliament, Shibganj Upazila Nirbahi Officer, Upazila Vice presidents, Upazila Woman Affair Officer, Upazila Social Service Officer, Officer In Charge, Raynagar Union Parishad Chairman, Women members, local teachers and journalists, PHR program Officials, Legal Counselors, members of Social Protection Group (SPG) and local elite bodies participated in this dialogue.