Odhikar

CIVIL LIBERTIES : Hopes for a fresh beginning

Families of missing victims waiting for answers. PHOTO: Star  C R Abrar The nation embraces 2016 with a degree of scepticism and anxiety. With the experiences of disenfranchisement and violations of fundamental rights including those of right to life and liberties experienced in 2015, people at large are eager for a new beginning. Their expectations […]

January 1, 2016 | Read full story | Comments are closed

Odhikar Statement on International Human Rights Day 2015

Human Rights Day is observed every year on 10 December, universally recognised as International Human Rights Day. It commemorates the day on which, in 1948, the United Nations General Assembly adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. This year’s Human Rights Day is devoted to the launch of a year-long campaign for the 50th anniversary of the […]

December 9, 2015 | Read full story | Comments are closed

“Fairness creams, skin colour-based discrimination and violence against women: time to stop!” by Taskin Fahmina*

Ruma (not her real name), a school teacher by profession and a mother of two, living in Dhaka, married Mainul eight years ago. Soon after, Mainul started harassing her, calling her an ‘ugly’ woman – because of her dark complexion.  Her mother-in-law and other members of her husband’s family used to verbally abuse her almost […]

December 1, 2015 | Read full story | Comments are closed

Human rights monitoring report : November 2015

The November 2015 monthly human rights monitoring report describes the human rights situation in Bangladesh, specifically describing the following areas: Political violence Extrajudicial killings Allegations of enforced disappearance Violence against religious minority communities Freedom of the media and expression under threat Human rights violations by BSF along the border Public lynching Violence against women Hindrance […]

December 1, 2015 | Read full story | Comments are closed

Odhikar Statement on International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women 2015

November 25 is the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women. This year, the slogan for the day is ‘Prevention’. In 1981, November 25 was declared as the International Day to eliminate violence against women in a conference on violence against women held in Latin America. On December 17, 1999, the United Nations […]

November 25, 2015 | Read full story | Comments are closed

Human rights monitoring report : October 2015

The October 2015 monthly human rights monitoring report describes the human rights situation in Bangladesh, specifically describing the following areas: A violent political situation continues Extrajudicial killings continue Torture in custody continues More people shot in leg after arrest Allegations of enforced disappearance continue Attacks on places of worship during Durga Puja and on preparation […]

November 1, 2015 | Read full story | Comments are closed