Global community marks 16 days of Activism to end violence against women and girls each year between 25 November to (International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women) 10 December (Human Rights Day) . In this regard, Plan International Bangladesh on Thursday arranged a Round Table Dialogue (RTD) session where the respective ambassadors, CEOs as well as the girls with whom this year’s Girls Take Over program took place joined the session at the Canadian Club. Death row convict of Kashimpur Jail dies in hospital The purpose of this RTD session was to celebrate the incredible potential of girls and amplify voices to protect and support young girl activists. Also, to learn practical experiences from the girls to create impact and reinforce the rights of girl children with an urge to increase investments for girls both nationally and globally. Canadian Ambassador to Bangladesh Lilly Nicholls said that ensuring gender equality is an ongoing battle all over the world.  Advocacy with the legislative body is essential to create mass awareness. Community based approach has to be implemented in the communities and families to break stereotypes and bring powerful change in the society. Swedish Ambassador to Bangladesh Alexandra Berg von Linde mentioned that gender equality means looking at women and girls as an asset. Until now, child marriage is the most severe form of gender-based violence. We believe that girls and women are the master of their own life. We have started to work on a policy level to update the laws to mitigate this issue. Nakshikatha commuter train from Khulna to Dhaka to operate via Padma Bridge from Friday British High Commissioner to Bangladesh Sarah Cooke said that, in order to achieve the full potential, it is pertinent for a girl to receive a complete 12 years of education. It is also important to include boys as well. Violence against women and girls is unacceptable. We all need to work together at all levels to change the social norms that exist in the society and find possibilities for women and girls to flourish. Grameenphone Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Yasir Azman said that, Surface level conversation is not enough. This discussion session will help us to update our modality of work that can bring gender balance within the system. However, we cannot work alone. Grameen phone is working with organizations like Plan International Bangladesh and providing training to students at school level to empower and inspire young girls by giving them a unique opportunity to step into leadership roles and gain insights into various industries. Canadian Ambassador to Bangladesh Lilly Nicholls; Swedish Ambassador to Bangladesh Alexandra Berg von Linde; British High Commissioner to Bangladesh Sarah Cooke; Grameenphone Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Yasir Azman and our take over girls of this year-Sanjana, Shawpna, Priti, Shampa, Taslima, Poly, Maleka, Boishakhi, Runa, Shila, Halima were present as panelists in the session. Kabita Bose, Country Director, Plan International Bangladesh moderated the whole session. Covered van set on fire in Gazipur Nishath Sultana, Director - Policy, Advocacy, Influencing and Campaigns, Plan International Bangladesh delivered welcome remarks on the arrival of the distinguished guests. The girls discussed the daily obstacles that girls face in their community such as- early marriage issue, girls’ education especially on drop out cases, gender-based violence and pointed out the challenges they face from Bangladesh’s patriarchal society and how they have fought back against stereotypes and social norms. They also proposed areas where they require investment for the girls to create a positive impact to foster gender inclusion in their community. They also shared their take over experience of this year.

Mentioning that the incumbent government is working in all ways to establish, protect and develop human rights, Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Anisul Huq said on Saturday that violators in this regard would face justice. "Those who violate human rights will be brought under the law of justice,"  he said, while addressing a discussion organised by the National Human Rights Commission at a city hotel in Dhaka on the occasion of Human Rights Day 2022  as the chief guest. Human Rights Day is celebrated annually around the world on December 10 every year. Read: PM: Patrons of August 15 killings have no right to lecture on democracy, human rights The date was chosen to honour the United Nations General Assembly's adoption and proclamation, on December 10, 1948, of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. "The government's stance on human rights violators is very clear. Those who violate human rights in Bangladesh will be prosecuted under the law," Anisul Haque said. He said despite many achievements of the government in the establishment and protection of human rights, a vested quarter is trying to present a negative image of human rights in Bangladesh for gaining political benefits. Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, who spent his entire life for the establishment and protection of human rights, was brutally killed with most of his family members on August 15, 1975, through the domestic-foreign conspiracy. "It was the most heinous and extreme violation of human rights in the history of the world," the law minister added added. He said that the horror of this human rights violation was made more terrible by the 'Indemnity Ordinance' that protected the killers from being brought to justice for 21 years. The killers were even rewarded and the major countries of the world gave shelter to them, he moaned. Read: Human rights as ‘cheap political tool’ could be counterproductive, says Shahriar Some of the convicted killers are still at large in some major countries, he said, adding that the government is trying to bring them back to Bangladesh although bringing them back has become very difficult. It has only been possible to prosecute major human rights violations, including those involved in the assassination of Bangabandhu, the assassination of four national leaders and crimes against humanity committed during the liberation war in 1971 due to the good policy and strong position of the government, he said. As a result, the culture of injustice has been removed from the country and the image of the country in the international arena has been brightened, the minister added. He also mentioned that Bangladesh has become a member of the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) four times. Chairman of the National Human Rights Commission Dr. Kamal Uddin Ahmed presided over the meeting while a full-time member of the commission Md Salim Reza and secretary of the Legislative and Parliamentary Affairs Department Moinul Kabir also spoke.

With this year’s theme “Dignity, Freedom, and Justice for All”, International Human Rights Day 2022 is being observed in the country today (Saturday) as elsewhere across the globe. Different organisations have taken elaborate programmes to observe the day. The United Nations has launched a year-long campaign to showcase the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) by focusing on its legacy, relevance and activism. With the call to action #StandUp4HumanRights the year-long campaign seeks to shift the needle of understanding and action towards greater knowledge of the universality of the UDHR and the activism associated with it. Read more: UN adopts resolution on human rights of Rohingya, other minorities in Myanmar "Human rights are the foundation for human dignity, and the cornerstone of peaceful, inclusive, fair, equal and prosperous societies," UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said in a message on Friday. He has urged Member States, civil society, the private sector and others to put human rights at the heart of efforts to reverse today’s damaging trends. Marking the Human Rights Day, Guterres said, "They are a unifying force and a rallying cry. They reflect the most fundamental thing we share – our common humanity." The world is facing unprecedented and interlocking challenges to human rights, Guterres said. Hunger and poverty are increasing – an affront to the economic and social rights of hundreds of millions of people. The UN chief said media freedom and the safety of journalists are in dangerous decline in almost every region of the world. "Trust in institutions is evaporating, especially among young people. The COVID-19 pandemic has led to increased levels of violence against women and girls," he said. United Nations General Assembly adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights on December 10, 1948. Read more: Qatar 2022: European nations still raising human rights concerns with FIFA It was a milestone document proclaiming the inalienable rights which everyone is inherently entitled to as a human being regardless of race, colour, religion, sex, language, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status. Available in more than 500 languages, it is the most translated document in the world.

Featuring three of the leading female artists in Bangladesh, an online art camp titled ‘Strokes Against Violence’, organised by Zonta Club of Greater Dhaka was virtually held on Wednesday - marking the 16 Days of Activism campaign against gender-based violence which reflected on the necessity of mass awareness regarding the issue. Noted painter Afroza Jamil Konka, eminent indigenous artist Kanak Chanpa Chakma and leading performance artist Nazia Andaleeb Preema showcased their mesmerising crafts based on the topic of violence against women at the event, which was moderated by Zonta’s Advocacy Chairperson Tootli Rahman and also joined by Dr Simeen M Akhter, President of Zonta Club of Greater Dhaka. News agency United News of Bangladesh (UNB) was the media partner of the camp, while Gallery Cosmos was the gallery partner. “I’ve been painting women for a long time. When I was at a very tender age, I saw my mother struggling to raise her four daughters as the situation was very hard for her in the male dominated society. I closely saw her joys and sorrows and she was very joyful when she used to be with us, to make us feel happy. Those things encouraged me to paint women and all their emotions,” painter Afroza Jamil Konka, the inaugural artist of the camp, shared her thoughts behind drawing paintings of women. Answering a question on why she thinks child marriage should be banned, Konka said, “I draw a lot of paintings on child marriage as I think it’s the root of all the violence against us, women. A little girl, when she is supposed to go to school and explore, enjoy and learn about life - society pushes her to do something which she is neither capable of nor ready to take over. A healthy and educated mother is a blessing for our society, and that can only be assured if we can stop child marriages.”

Marking the 50th Victory Day and Birth Centenary of the Father of the Nation, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the Liberation War Museum (LWM) is hosting a week-long Victory Carnival-2020 from Thursday.

The International Human Rights Day is being observed in the country today as elsewhere across the globe.