Three days training for Human Rights Defenders on November 9-11, 2013

A three daylong Human Rights Defenders Training for Ethnic Minorities organized by Institute for Environment and Development (IED) in cooperation with European Union and Oxfam at CBCB centre Asad Avenue, Mohammadpur, Dhaka during November 9-11, 2013 with active participation of diverse young mind from 17 indigenous Peoples living in Dhaka city, and other parts like Rangamati, Khagrachary, Bandarban, Gazipur,Netrakona and Madhupur i.e. Santal, Oraon, Borman, Hajong, Tea worker, Rakhaine, Garo, Mahato, Tanchangya, Marma, Monipuri, Robidas, Khyang, Chakma, Tripura, Chak and Malo. The training started by welcome speech by Numan Ahmed Khan, Executive Director of IED and welcome tune by Saikat Biswas, project coordinator of Oxfam. Both speakers urged the participants to open up their mind so that can easily attain the learning while training. The aims and objectives of the Human Rights Defenders Training (HRD) are;

1. Form a human rights defenders from indigenous peoples

2. Raising voice of HRD while violence towards indigenous or religious minorities case

3. Bring down HRD under one umbrella to fight against human rights violence

4. Involve the young minds in this struggle and transform them as harbinger of the society and country as well.

The hands on and hands off training facilitated by advocate Saidur Rahman and Afsana Chowdhury Emi towards the participants. The training covered the diverse issues for discussion like making fact finding techniques, GD, FIR, Report writing, challenges of HRD, how to take interview, different national and international law, convention for indigenous peoples, energizers, games, entertainment, group discussion & presentation, quiz competition for knowing the prevailing learning. The three daylong residential training made a special breakthrough in the mind of the participants. Last day evening of the training a small discussion ceremony organized before handover certificate among the participants. In that ceremony graced by Sanjeeb Drong, general secretary of Bangladesh Adivasi Forum, Numan Ahmed Khan, Executive Director of IED, Dipayon Khisa, young human rights activist, Saikat Biswas, Project Coordinator of Oxfam. After short speech by the guest, they handover certificate among new HRD participants. The three daylong training ended with the aspiration of frequent meeting in coming future between the human rights defenders at anywhere in our country at anytime.