Odhikar, with the support of the May 18 Memorial Foundation, organised a
two-day Human Rights Defenders Conference on February 19-20, 2010 in
the UBINIG Hridoypur Centre at Tangail.
Odhikar, with the support of the May 18 Memorial Foundation, organised a two-day Human Rights Defenders Conference on February 19-20, 2010 in the UBINIG Hridoypur Centre at Tangail.
 
Odhikar's human rights defenders, from 40 districts, took part in various sessions of the conference. Prominent women rights leader, Farida Akhter inaugurated the conference by lighting oil lamps.
 
The inauguration was presided over by Odhikar Secretary, Adilur Rahman Khan. UBINIG Director Shima Das Shimu; Member of the Editorial Board of Fortnightly Chinta, Mustain Zahir and Odhikar Director ASM Nasiruddin Elan gave welcome speeches at the inaugural session.

Farida Akhter said that many women in Bangladesh are victims of acid violence, rape, dowry, domestic violence and trafficking. She stressed that human rights defenders can effectively mitigate violence against women by playing an active role in the society.  

Accepting the liability for defending human rights, Mustain Zair said, "we have to organise a movement by creating social awareness among the people in order to establish our denial logical rights". 

The speakers said that the UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the Human Rights Defenders Declaration are the safeguards to protect and promote rights of the people, though it is a debatable issue that how effective these instruments are. In the inaugural session defenders shared their experiences in regard to dealing with human rights related issues. 

A video documentary on Tribunal against Torture was presented after the inaugural session. Odhikar organised this tribunal on 27 June 2009 to commemorate the International Day in Support of Victims of Torture, 26 June, 2009.
 
Kindly read the rest of the statement here.