bnps.org » 2009 » October

Reformation of education System in Bangladesh is one of the core programmatic areas of BNPS under Policy reform intervention and mass awareness. As a women and minority rights organization, BNPS firmly believes in the following as components of our philosophy of education policy:

• Pluralism and diversity
• Unity in diversity
• Humanism
• Secularism

Existing education system in Bangladesh is having no development or transformational objective. The multifarious education system of our country results in an unstable situation for us. Apart from the insufficient budgetary allocation, our education system also remains distorted from keeping cohesion with the directive of the constitution. Article 17(a) of our constitution asserts that the “state shall adopt effective measures for the purpose of establishing a uniform, mass oriented and universal system of education …” which would be the base of creating an inclusive society for all. However, in reality, different stream of education is in exists and nurtured by both state and private sector. Read the rest of this entry »

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Network/alliances at national level

Since inception, BNPS has been taken initiatives to bring a reform in the NGO sector in Bangladesh to make it an organized movement and include the process of empowerment of the poor and women in their programs. BNPS has been working for bringing activism in place of traditional project oriented development work by the NGOs. The issues like, fundamentalism, secularism and its relation to democracy and development were also brought to the sphere of NGOs through the tireless efforts. In this perspective BNPS played on active role to facilitate the process arranging different forums/networks like Coalition for the Urban Poor (CUP), Bangladesh Shishu Adhikar Forum (BSAF), Democracy Forum, Sammilito Nari Samaj (United Women’s Platform) and Women’s Development Forum. In the inception period BNPS office worked as secretariat and ED of BNPS as founding coordinator of all this networks/forums.

Amar Odhikar (My Rights) Campaign
Since September 2008, BNPS has been active in a national campaign on ensuring rights to essential services for all called Amar Odhikar Campaign (AOC). AOC is an alliance of CSOs with a view to bringing about substantive changes in the quality and the delivery of basic essential services, paying particular attention to education and health and facilitated by the Southern Campaign Group of Oxfam Novib (ON) started at the end of 2007. The initiative was followed by a series of practical actions which successfully involved review of the existing literature, observing real case scenario at the grassroots level, organizing dialogues with prominent political leaders, law makers, members of the parliamentary standing committee, key informants such as educationist, academics, CSO leaders, researchers as far as the said issues are concerned.

On October 25, 2008 the Campaign was launched in Dhaka with the aim to establish demand of right to primary education through ensuring four specific demands firstly, one school in every village; secondly, one teacher must be appointed for each group of 40 students; thirdly, school must provide midday meal for the children; and finally, the right to education must be included in the constitution as a fundamental right.

The purpose of AOC is to mobilize the civil society of Bangladesh to facilitate government to ensure the essential basic services to all. At present the campaign is focusing on quality and equitable standards of education. Rokeya Kabir, Executive Director of BNPS is the convener of AOC.

Coalition for Urban Poor (CUP)
It is national network primarily concentrated on the marginal people in the urban areas and slum dwellers in Dhaka City. CUP has been proved as an important platform for the urban poor for their economic development and raising voice for the denial rights. It played vital role in stopping the eviction of slum dwellers.

Bangladesh Shishu Adhikar Forum (BSAF)
It was formed for triggering a national discourse on the right of children and address the issue of child labor.

Democracy Forum
With the initiative of BNPS, Democracy Forum was developed in 1997. This was formed for expediting the political empowerment of women, establishing the good governance and to strengthening the Local government. Involving the NGOs working in Dhaka and outsides, it was formed in order to strengthening the Local Government and initiating the Democracy Education process. BNPS worked as secretariat of this network.

Sammilito Nari Samaj (United Women’s Platform)
BNPS took the initiative to sensitize and mobilize people from different groups of women activists and organizations to push for women rights issues and fight against the violence on women. The Executive Director of BNPS acted as the founder Coordinator of this forum and BNPS provided secretarial supports throughout the country. Workshops, seminars, rally and processions were organized as the initiatives of these forums, against case of rape and killing of Yasmin, a young worker girl by police and it turned into a country wide movement named “Yasmin Murder Movement”.

Women’s Development Forum
For developing women’s leadership in the NGO sector, BNPS created a space for women working in big NGOs and leaders of small women headed NGO. In June 27, 1993 a network was formed named Mohila NGO Forum and later on it was renamed as Women Development Forum (WDF). BNPS played the role of coordinating the platform. Through this network a movement initiated against harassment of women their workplaces, which help developing the organizing and mobilizing capacity of women leaders.

Samajik Protirodh Committee (Social Action Committee against Violence)
It is a national network comprised of 42 women and human rights activist groups. BNPS, as a member of the network, contributed to formulate policy papers and developing IEC materials as follows:

• Convention, sharing meeting, press conference and human chain.
• National women’s advancement policy.
• Increase numbers of reserve seats for women in the parliament and direct election for seats.
• Resist violence against women.
• Increase women’s participation in decision making process in all level.
• Uniform family code.

Sampreeti Mancha
It is a forum of different writers, intellectuals and professionals like professors, doctors, engineers, journalists etc. The forum responses most of the issues raised in the country on violence against both ethnic and religious minority. BNPS is facilitating this forum by providing space for their activities and secretarial support.

Poribesh Banchao Andolon (Environment Movement)
Poribesh Banchao Andolon is an activist’s group working on environment issues. A lot of progressive organization and individuals are member of this movement, BNPS is one of them. Many of the eminent personalities of Bangladesh are working with this platform. The movement mobilizes mass opinion on environment issues from grass root to policy makers.

Governance Coalition
Governance Coalition is established in 2004 with the motto of “Promoting Responsive Governance and Human Rights”. The mission of the coalition is to establish effective participation of the poor and marginalized people in exercising their rights over the decision making and policy making processes that affect their lives. BNPS is a member of this coalition.

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Network and alliance in regional/international level

The W8
Eight extraordinary women, one unique voice: As a dedicated advocate for ensuring peoples access to their rights to basic services, Executive Director of BNPS Ms Rokeya Kabir has been selected by Oxfam international as a member of a cabinet of eight women/W8, interfacing G8 countries. Lunched on February 2009, W8 consists of eight women ambassadors from each of Oxfam’s essential services focus countries including Bangladesh, India, Thailand, Philippines, Malawi, Mali, Nicaragua and Georgia. Since the formation, the coalition has been speaking on behalf of global poor and marginalized people that do not have free access to education, health, and sanitation by bringing the voice and realities of communities to world leaders. Their lobbying is mainly focused to G8 leaders for investing more in poor countries to ensure essential services for all.

South Asian Alliance for Poverty Eradication (SAAPE)
South Asia Alliance for Poverty Eradication (SAAPE) is a regional network of the like minded organization for advocacy and addressing the issues of poverty and deprivation, discrimination, social development and the process of “globalization”. NGOs, mass organizations, academicians, trade unions, community based organizations and different movement mentors of this networks. Its Regional Secretariat is based in Kathmundu, Nepa, and it was formed in the year 2001. The objective of this alliance is to create poverty free and an equitable society where people can get an opportunity for enjoying their rights and dignity. BNPS has been acting as a regional thematic focal organization on gender of this alliance and the ED of BNPS has been playing an important role for its political guidance as one of the founder and member of regional core committee of SAAPE from its formation period.

In the alliance, it was broadly identified five thematic issues such as Gender equality, good governance, labour rights, peace and demilitarization and food sovereignty. And BNPS is the lead organization on Gender equality and also selected as a country focal organization for SAAPE in Bangladesh.

As a gender focal organization, BNPS continues its advocacy work for a gender sensitive budget increased political participation of women, which address the issues of women both in rural and urban level in the region.

Committee for Asian Women (CAW)
Committee for Asian Women (CAW) is an Asian Regional organization for women workers based in Bangkok, Thailand. CAW celebrated her Silver Jubilee year in 2002. For the last 25 years, CAW has been taking up issues of women workers in Asia. BNPS is a member of CAW contributed highlighting the issue of women workers, particularly in the increasing informal sector.
A study has been conducted on “Impact of Globalization on Women in Bangladesh”. Besides, wrote two papers on globalization and its impact on women and also women workers one for a regional workshop in India, one for an International seminar in Hong Kong City University.

Water and Democracy Forum: This forum consists of 46 partner organizations from India, Bangladesh, Nepal and Pakistan of South Asia. The objective of this forum is to explore opportunities for action towards the basic right to water, in respective countries as well as within South Asia. BNPS is a member of the steering committee of this forum participated and contributed in different meetings and workshops producing policy documents.

South Asian Network of Gender Activists and Trainers (SANGAT)
It is a South Asia level network dealing with gender related issues which enforces the women movement in South Asia raising their voice, claiming their entitlements and establishing women rights as human rights. It was established in 1998, and based in New Delhi, India. BNPS is an active member of SANGAT since its inception.

South Asian Network for Social and Agricultural Development (SANSAD)
SANSAD is established in 2004 as a regional level network of like-minded voluntary organizations, academic institutions, farmers and trade associations to ensure people’s participation in the processes of development, peace and governance for addressing the regional concerns based in New Delhi, India. SANSAD supports people’s efforts to build community, and create the social cohesion necessary for healthy, caring societies and assist in the development of sustainable livelihoods that meet the needs of all community members. BNPS is actively involved with SANSAD activities in Bangladesh and in regional level.

Moreover, through participating different International and Regional workshops, seminars and symposiums, the Executive Director of BNPS took the initiatives to ensure inclusion of the issues concerning women empowerment, rights and creating opportunity for women in the declarations and policies of different International and Regional organizations.

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On the eve of UNGA meeting, a letter has been sent to Mr. Gordon Brown, Prime Minister of England and other Head of States by W8, a global advocacy group of 8 women interfacing G8

W8 delegates with German Chancellor Angela Markel in her office

17 September 2009

Rt Hon Gordon Brown MP
Prime Minister
10 Downing Street
London SW1A 2AA

Dear Prime Minister,

It is not acceptable that in 2009 that a child dies every three seconds of preventable disease and every minute a woman dies in childbirth or pregnancy. In this context we are very encouraged by your offer of support for free health care for mothers and children in Ghana, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Burundi, Malawi, Mozambique and Nepal.

If world leaders meeting on 23rd September at the UN General Assembly in New York agree to follow your example, midwives and doctors can be recruited and trained, and lives will be saved.

We believe countless more will be saved if you:

• Expand your list, and assist other poor countries to do away with fees for health care. Please extend your offer of support to Sierra Leone and Kenya, where some mothers too poor to pay their medical bills are being detained in hospitals.
• Persuade other rich country governments to lend their support. Your personal leadership will go a long way in influencing fellow leaders in Norway, Spain, Canada, Japan and Germany.
• Make sure that aid for free health care comes immediately, and is given for the long-term. Time is running out for poor people who are being turned away from doctors, and for women giving birth to the next generation. Read the rest of this entry »

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SAAPE response against the postponed of decision to create a new women’s entity at the United Nations

Monday, 14 September, 2009
So far, despite all efforts of global women’s movement and commitments made by different international agencies including UN, progress made in achieving equality for women is very limited, uneven and selective. In this context, for last few years global women’s movement, CSOs, concerned UN bodies put together many efforts to have a single entity in the UN for making UN interventions effective to achieve the goal of equality among the sexes. Read the rest of this entry »

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