Dialogue with UP Members, UDMC, Civil Society and Community Leaders

Project Title : Reducing Climate Vulnerability and Protecting Human Rights through Youth Engagement and Community Participation.

Implemented Activities   :

1.6.1 Dialogue with UP Members, UDMC, Civil Society and Community Leaders

District :  Satkhira

Name of Upazila : 

                                        Assasuni

                                          5 Unions 

                                          (Sreeula, Protapnagar, Anulia, Khazra, Baradal)

                                        Shymnagar

                                          5 Unions 

                                          (Padmapukur, Burigoalini, Gabura, Munshiganj, Ramjannagar)

Dialogue Session Agenda :

·         Community’s Knowledge about Human Rights

• Community’s Knowledge about Rights and Human Rights
• Significance of Human Rights
• Application of Human Rights with our daily activities

·         Community’s Perception about Human Rights and Basic Rights

• Relevance of Laws and Constitution with Human Rights
•  Basic Rights of Citizens of Bangladesh according to the Constitution
• Ways to Enjoy the Benefits of Basic Rights as a Citizen of Bangladesh

·         Human Rights Violations and Our Responsibilities

• Reasons behind Human Rights Violation
• Our Responsibilities during Human Rights Violation

·         Community’s Knowledge about Weather and Climate Change

• Effects of Climate Change in the Community
• Effects of Climate Change on the Women and Adolescents

·         Relevance of Human Rights with Climate Change

• Human Rights Problems and Exigency Due to Climate Change
• Solutions to Human Rights Problems and Exigency Due to Climate Change
• Community’s, Government’s, Local Government Institutions’ Roles and Responsibilities to Solve Human Rights Problems and Exigency Due to Climate Change

Achievements :

• Community leaders and youths presented their problems in front of the local authorities and discussed about possible solutions,
• UPs assured to implement some of their proposed activities,
• Union Disaster Management Committee (UDMC) became active after the dialogue session and assured their vital role in future,
• LGIs and Civil Society gave important suggestions for future activities,
• Upazila Disaster Management Committee (UPzDMC) became concerned about climate change after the dialogue session and they ensured their role in future,
• Upazila Members, UPzDMC members, civil society and community leaders distinguished their roles and responsibilities,
• District Disaster Management Committee (DDMC) became more concerned about climate change after the dialogue session,
• DDMC, NGOs, Civil Society, Govt. officials, media personnel distinguished their responsibilities and assured to play collaborative role in future,
• Civil Society, govt. officials gave important climate resilient suggestions for future activities to protect human rights.

Action Learning :

• Dialogue sessions make UDMC, UPzDMC, DDMC etc. responsible authorities more concerned about climate change issues,
• Active participation of community leaders and duty bearers ensures the best result for the community,
• Community and marginalized people gets confidence to raise their voice through such dialogue sessions,

Challenges :

• Scheduling dialogue sessions in busy (December) work schedule of govt. officials,
• Ensuring participations in dialogue sessions on scheduled time in remote areas,
• Reluctance of govt. officials as well up members to participate in dialogue sessions due to not getting conveyance/ honourarium,
• Internal conflict among chairman, members and officials ,
• Political instability,
• Time limitation in dialogue sessions,
• Shot duration of project period.