Protecting Human Rights (PHR) Program

PHR is an initiative of Plan International in partnership with the Bangladesh National Women Lawyers’

Association (BNWLA) and 11 local NGOs in 102 unions of 8 upazilas under 6 districts. Supported by the United

States Agency for International Development (USAID), we work to reduce the high prevalence of child marriage and

violence against women in Bangladesh.

Who We Are

Plan International BangladeshHouse CWN (B) 14, Road 35Gulshan-2, Dhaka-1212Tel+880-2-9860167, 8817589

PHR website: www.enddomesticviolencebd.orgFacebook: www.facebook.com/protectinghumanrightsTwitter: www.twitter.com/tweetforightsE-mail: plan.bangladesh@plan-international.orgPlan International website: www.plan-international.org

Disclaimer: This brochure is made possible by the support of the American people through the United States Agency for International development (USAID). The contents do not necessarily reflect the views of USAID or the United States Government.

Supported By:

National Partners:

Local Partners:

For more information:

Where We WorkThe PHR program works in all 102 unions of Barguna Sadar, Monirampur, Shariakandi, Shibgonj, Sonatala, Chirirbandar, Balaganj, and Patiya upazillas, under the districts of Barguna, Jessore, Bogra, Dinajpur, Sylhet and Chittagong.

1. House # 9 (2nd Floor), Road 2, Block H, Halishahar Housing Society, Chittagong

2. Goaldeghi, Khansama Road, Khansama, Dinajpur3. 1447 Dr. S.K. Lane, Katnar Para, Bogra4. House # 44, Road 2, Block-E, Shahjalal Uposhahar,

Sylhet5. PTI Road, Sostitola Para, Jessore6. Master Villa, South Monoshatoli, Lakurtola (east side

of sluice gate), Barguna

PHR Program District Offices:

Why Our Work MattersBecause…

• Bangladesh has the 4th highest percentage of child marriage in the world (UNICEF 2014)

• Nearly 9 out of 10 wives suffer from domestic violence (Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics 2011)

• Almost 90% of all women aged 10-18 face sexual harassment in public (BNWLA 2011)

The alarming rate of child marriage in Bangladesh keeps children away from school and makes them vulnerable to domestic violence. Gender-based violence encompass a wide range of human rights violations, including physical and psychological abuse, sexual harassment, rape, and many harmful traditional practices, such as dowry.

In this context, Plan International Bangladesh and its partners are implementing the Protecting Human Rights (PHR) Program to reduce the high prevalence of child marriage, domestic violence, sexual harassment and other related human rights violations.

PHR is one of the many assistance projects in Bangladesh supported by the United States Agency for International Development. USAID’s Country Development Cooperation Strategy considers gender to be a cross-cutting priority that affects achievement of all development objectives.

What We Do1. Advocacy: Support the adoption and implementation of

laws and policies that prevent child marriage (CM), domestic violence (DV), sexual harassment, and associated human rights abuses against women and children.

2. Capacity Building: Strengthen the capacity of key actors in civil society and government to provide services and to investigate, monitor and combat child marriage and violence against women.

3. Access to Justice: Provide legal services and increase willingness of DV survivors to access justice through informal and formal justice mechanisms including Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR).

4. Survivor Services: Provide immediate support - psychosocial, legal, medical, and shelter - for survivors of domestic violence and network with local non-government organizations to provide livelihood and skill training.

5. Mass Awareness & Educational Campaigns: Expand public awareness through targeted communications and events at local and national levels and implement educational campaigns through a schools project and training of youth groups to protect human rights and stop early marriage.

How We WorkWe work in collaboration with partners and diverse stakeholders and use the following strategies, among others:

• Maintain Social Protection Groups (SPGs) in 102 communities to raise awareness, reduce child marriage, and protect and assist survivors of domestic violence.

• Social Workers are on the frontline in each community, to provide psychosocial counseling and paralegal counseling to survivors as well as make referrals to other service providers.

• Legal Counselors handle court cases and help resolve cases using ADR. PHR modules have been incorporated into the curriculum of the Judicial Administration Training Institute (JATI).

• School and Youth Projects raise awareness at an early age to prevent child marriage and gender-based violence. Sexual Harassment Prevention and Complaint Committees have been set up and trained in every school and many madrassa in working areas.

• Training diverse stakeholders such as marriage registrars, local government officials, religious leaders, teachers, journalists, police, judges, civil society activists, social workers and lawyers, to enable them to stop child marriage and address violence against women. Engaging men and boys is a priority of PHR.

• Raise awareness and inspire social change through frequent courtyard meetings, ludu games, community radio, theater for development, a human rights champions program, and community events and materials. Maintain a website and disseminate information about the program and relevant issues through social media.

• Maintain Human Rights Forums at local and national levels to conduct advocacy, share evidence, inform government services, and hold policy dialogues.

• Collaborate with government - the Ministry of Women and Children Affairs (MOWCA) and other ministries and agencies - to achieve a strong and effective Child Marriage Restraint Act, Domestic Violence (Protection and Prevention) Act, a new Sexual Harassment Prevention Law, and related policies and action plans.