Under this initiative, supported by the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA) and Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), UNDP in partnership with the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) called for innovative ideas, actions, and approaches to solve human rights problems and challenges, leaving no one behind, in different thematic issues.

The Human Rights and Justice Programme, with funding support from SIDA and SDC has been working with the state-based institutions particularly the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) to strengthen its capacity to better deliver on its mandate and the law-enforcing agencies (in particular Police) to defend and protect human rights, said UNDP on Monday.

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It has been able to engage other stakeholders also such as civil society organisations (CSOs), human rights defenders (HRDs), youths and faith leaders to promote a human rights culture.

The Programme has given special focus on working with most vulnerable and marginalised groups, including women and girls, children and young people, ethnic and religious minorities, people with disabilities, Dalit and other excluded minorities.

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The call encourages an approach to leave no one behind (LNOB) to combat discrimination and  inequalities in the time of COVID-19, particularly on the following thematic issues - Rights and inclusion of left-behind people in the decision-making structures and institutional services, rights of the minorities, women and children rights, cultural rights: promotion of peace, tolerance and cultural diversity in the society, ethnic/local language-based rights education and radio programming.

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So far, the Programme has provided small grants support to 44 CSOs in 15 districts aiming to enhance their capacity and better engagement in addressing human rights issues. Priority districts for this year are Dhaka, Manikganj, Rajshahi, Dinajpur, Khulna, Satkhira, Barishal, Cox’s Bazar, Mymensingh, Moulvibazar and Habiganj.

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