The issues of Human Rights, Good Governance and Social Justice are of critical concern to the people of the region in greater Dinajpur where the proposed project will be implemented. Since its inception in 1985, CDA has been striving to establish economic, social, political and civil rights and social justice - to protect the tortured, repressed and deprived groups of society and reduce violence against women and children. CDA's working area is close the Indian border and to Nepal, where there are internationally identified routes of trafficking of women and children. Among the participants of CDA, more than 30% are extreme poor minorities which include Adibashi, Hindu, Christian, Spirituals and non-religious. The hardcore poor are comprised of: disabled, beggars, isolated, separated, divorced women, sex workers, day laborers, families dependent on child labor, and ethnic/minorities who have little assets, power and dignity.
To complement its institutional knowledge gained through implementation of its existing Institution Building program, CDA recently conducted a series of 10 Focus Group Discussions (FGD), to clarify understanding among community leaders, local elite’s, poor and hard core poor, minorities and other marginalized people. The problems identified by FGD participants related to awareness and knowledge, and to community participation.
(i) Awareness and knowledge: There is lack of awareness and clarity on human rights, fundamental rights, social justice, legal issues including democratic principles, citizen’s role, public service law related to human rights, women and child abuse and trafficking, punishment for violation rights, torture, repression and trafficking , gender disparity and discrimination, defending strategy and responsibilities of local Government.
(ii) Community Participation: There is poor community access to participation and decision making in: Shalish, Village Court, and Local Government development activities, as well as absence of established fora or initiatives for people to engage in activities related to community rights and social justice. There is lack of awareness about the importance of women's participation as candidates for elected officials.
CDA seeks to address these problems through interventions that will enhance the implementation capacity of the People’s Organization (PO) and Union & Gram Parishad, and foster community participation of all levels of people living in rural area. Civil society members include journalists and advocates who work to protect the rights of the poor and to reduce violence against women and children.
To complement its institutional knowledge gained through implementation of its existing Institution Building program, CDA recently conducted a series of 10 Focus Group Discussions (FGD), to clarify understanding among community leaders, local elite’s, poor and hard core poor, minorities and other marginalized people. The problems identified by FGD participants related to awareness and knowledge, and to community participation.
(i) Awareness and knowledge: There is lack of awareness and clarity on human rights, fundamental rights, social justice, legal issues including democratic principles, citizen’s role, public service law related to human rights, women and child abuse and trafficking, punishment for violation rights, torture, repression and trafficking , gender disparity and discrimination, defending strategy and responsibilities of local Government.
(ii) Community Participation: There is poor community access to participation and decision making in: Shalish, Village Court, and Local Government development activities, as well as absence of established fora or initiatives for people to engage in activities related to community rights and social justice. There is lack of awareness about the importance of women's participation as candidates for elected officials.
CDA seeks to address these problems through interventions that will enhance the implementation capacity of the People’s Organization (PO) and Union & Gram Parishad, and foster community participation of all levels of people living in rural area. Civil society members include journalists and advocates who work to protect the rights of the poor and to reduce violence against women and children.
0 comments:
Post a Comment