SASF 2011 Seminar: Effective Strategy to Combat Gender Based Violence (GBV) in South Asia

Seminar by ASF and Manusher Jonno Foundation. Image courtesy ASF

Acid Survivors Foundation (ASF) and Manusher Jonno Foundation organized a seminar on “Effective Strategy to combat Gender Based Violence – South Asian Perspective” on November 21st as part of the South Asia Social Forum events. The seminar, held in the Center for Advanced Research For Humanities at the Lecture Theatre Building of Dhaka University, gathered experience from the panelists and urged human rights activists to exchange ideas and best practices in combating the worldwide problems of violence against women.

The panelists for the seminar included: Mr M.B Akhter- Program Manager, Oxfam GB; Ms. Naheed Ahmed- National Program Manager, UN Women; Ms. Mahal Aminuzzaman, Acting Head of Section, Human Rights and Good Governance, DANIDA; Ms. Marriane Berner, International Program Manager, Joint Program to address VAW, UNFPA; and Dr. Abul Hossain, Director of Multisectoral Program, Ministry of Women and Children’s Affairs. The session was chaired by Ms. Shaheen Anam, Executive Director of Manusher Jonno Foundation.

Each of the panelists gave a brief presentation on strategies implemented by their organizations to combat gender based violence in Bangladesh, the challenges faced, and the lessons learnt. The presentations were followed by a discussion where the issue of greater coordination between NGOs, civil society and government was stressed. (source: Press Release)

SASF 2011 Workshop: Tax Justice – South Asia Perspective

Today (21 November 2011) speakers at a workshop held in the conference Room, Center of Advanced Research in Sciences (CARS), 1st Floor, Mokarrom Bhaban, Dhaka University said that, there are huge discrepancies in tax system in the South Asian countries. They suggested that, to eliminate discrepancies between poor and rich of this region tax justice has to be established. The workshop titled “Tax Justice: South Asia perspective” is a part of the South Asian Social Forum and it was jointly organized by Jubilee South Asia Pacific Movement on Debt and Development in association with its Bangladeshi members equityBD, Supro and Voice.

Workshop On Tax Justice. Image Courtesy EquityBd

The workshop was moderated by Willy D Costa of INSAF (India). Representatives from organizations of different South Asian countries made presentations on the tax systems of the respective countries.

Dr. Keshab of ANFPA (Nepal) mentioned that, Nepal government hugely depends on indirect tax. Still the inflation rate is 10.5%, the unemployment rate is 3%. 60% of government finance comes from revenues. But the scenario of socio economic is not up to the desired level. He suggested that, to overcome the problems the budget process should be participatory.

Syad Aminul Haque of equityBD (Bangladesh) mentioned that, According to the vision 2021 Bangladesh wants to be a country with middle level income. To achieve that goal, Bangladesh has to invest 30-35% of GDP. So, Bangladesh will need internal resource mobilization. He suggested direct tax as a well mean of that resource mobilization. He said that, VAT or other indirect taxes can not be solution, these taxes increase burden on poor.

Rakesh Mittal of India mentioned that, Indian tax system is always serving the interest of riches.

Among others Lidy Napcil of Jubille South Asia  Pacific Movement on Debt and Development, Dr. Attiya Waris of Tax Justice Network  (From Kenya) and Saeed Baluch of PFF (Pakistan) also spoke. (press release)

SASF 2011 Workshop: Rights And Dignity Of Domestic Workers

National Alliance for Migrants Rights Bangladesh (NAMR,B) has organized a seminar titled “Rights and Dignity of Domestic Workers and Ratification of ILO Convention 189″ at Room no.-202/b, Lecture theatre, Political Science Dept. Arts Faculty, Dhaka University on 21st November 2011. The duration of the seminar was from 10.00 am to 1.00 pm.

Workshop on Rights And Dignity Of Domestic Workers

Ms. Jasiya Khatoon, Coordinator of WARBE development Foundation and Mr. Sk. Mujibul Huq, Str. Manager, BRAC presented their key note  presentation on the mentioned issues.  Ms. Sumaiya Islam, Director, Bangladesh Ovibashi Mohila Sramik Association (BOMSA) discussed on “Women Migrants’ Situation in South Asia”, Mr. Shakirul Islam, Chair, OKUP “Role of Governments in Sending countries”, Mr. Bishnu Khatri, Executive Director, Youth Action Nepal “Situation of Migrant Workers in Nepal”, Syed Saiful Haque, Chairman, WARBE DF “Why Domestic Worker’s Convention ratification requires” and Ms. Rina Roy, Director, Manusher Jonno Foundation “Role of Civil Society and Migrant’s Rights in Sending Countries” took part in the discussion. The seminar was chaired by Mr. Alison Subrata Baroi, Program Coordinator, BRAC. (press release)

SASF 2011 Workshop: Resistance, Democracy and Cyberspace as Alternative Media

Fahmidul Haq presenting the keynote (Image by Sharat Chowdhury)

Media Forum organized an workshop on alternative media in the Institute if Business Administration (IBA) Auditorium at Dhaka University premises today (21st Nov). The Panel discussants were Mashiul Alam, Assistant Editor of Prothom Alo, Kowshik Ahmed, popular blogger and Mahbub Morshed, Assistant editor of Dainik Samakal. The discussion was moderated by Prof M Golam Rahman, Dept. of Mass Communication and Journalism, University of Dhaka.

Fahmidul Haq, associate professor of Dept. of Mass Communication and Journalism, University of Dhaka presented the key note titled “Resistance, Democracy and Cyberspace as Alternative Media”.

Here is a snippet from the discussion.

Mahbub Morshed: We should not be too cheerful about social media.

Mashiul Alam: Now it is possible to publish whistle blower type news such as Wikileaks which was not possible in the past five decades.

Kowshik Ahmed: The main characteristics of Bangladeshi cyberspace is the growth of online communities. At first this community was a carrier of alternative thinking. When some previously unknown people started to mingle with each other online, their ideologies started to become clearer.

We are seeing the advent of new online platforms of different niche – thus internet is spreading from the elites to the middle class to the poor. As technology is becoming affordable to them soon commercial organization swill offer more services using internet. Internet helps news spread quickly. We hope in the future political leaders will use new and alternative media to organize people and organization. The time is near.

SASF 2011 Workshop: Public Private Partnership (PPP) – What Works and What does Not

On 21s of November 2011 a workshop was held in the Lecture Theatre of Pharmacy department of Dhaka University where speakers expressed their concern that, bureaucracy and the lack of confidence are the main challenges for the success of the Public Private Partnership (PPP). According to their observation, to make the idea of PPP successfull political will is must. They were speaking during a workshop titlled “PPP: What Works and What does Not“. The Reality of Aid (RoA) Asia Pacific, The Asia Pacific Reserch Network (APRN), equityBD, Coastal Development Partnership (CPD) and Voice jointly organized the program.

Workshop on Tax Justice. Image courtesy EquityBD

The workshop was moderated by Dr. Sohel Iqbal of EquityBd while Jahangir Hossain Masum delivered the welcome note. M Shamim Siddiqui of The Asia Foundation and Erin Polmares of RoA presented two position papers.

In his presentation Shamim Siddiqui stated that, PPP can play a vital role in implementing devlopment projects effectively, but political will is must to make the PPP succesfull. Intention of maximize the utilization of public fund, strong monitoring mechanism are also needed. He mentioned that, good governnecne in PPP has to be ensured and civil society organizations can take some advocacy inititive to ensure that good governnance. He also emphasized on the good governance and corporate social responsibilitiies of private sector.

In her presentation Erin Polmares stated that, PPP is actually a new face of privatization imposed by the international financial institutions to the developing countries. It is a mean to gain profits of the private sector using public money. But according to her, if public participation in planning, implementation and monitoring process can be ensured, PPP can play positive role in development. (Press Release)

SASF 2011: Farmers Parliament

Farmer's Parliament

Incidin and Manusher Jonno Foundation jointly organized on 20th of November 2011 morning a seminar titled “Marginal Farmer friendly Policy Environment: South Asian Experience” including some farmers representatives and aptly called it as “farmer’s parliament “. The event took place in the Senate Bhaban Seminar room of Dhaka University and the chief guest was the honorable agriculture minister of Bangladesh Government Ms. Motia Chowdhury. She said that the farmers know the importance of parliament and that is why they are present to voice their opinion in parliament. She taunted that if the opposition parties were present in the parliament like these farmers then the parliament would be more strong.

Motia Chowdhury On Farmers' Issues

The event was presided by Shahin Anam, the Executive Director of Manusher Jonno Foundation and the special guest was Mahbub Hossain, Executive Director, BRAC. The policy paper was presented by A.K.M. Masud Ali, Executive Director, INCIDIN Bangladesh.  Different senior members of farmer’s organizations and ordinary farmers from all over the country were also present and voiced their opinions.

A proposal on the draft policy of agriculture from different farmer’s organizations was handed over to the minister. Minister Motia Chowdhury said that she will present it in national parliament for discussion and will do necessary change, elaboration and addition in this proposal. (Source: Press Release)

SASF 2011 Workshop: VAT And Pro Poor Development

On 20 November 2011 morning an workshop titled “VAT And Pro Poor Development: Resource Mobilization” was arranged in the Seminar room of Department of Physics at Mukarram Bhaban.

Workshop On VAT And Pro Poor Development

The speakers on this workshop termed VAT as a burden for the poor. They suggested the direct tax as a strong and effective mean of resource mobilization. The workshop was jointly organized by equityBD, Tax Justice Network, Voice, INCIDIN Bangladesh and Rupantar.

The workshop was moderated by Sahid Ullah of Development Synergy Institute, while Syad Aminul Haque of EquityBD presented the key note paper. Among others the workshop was also presented by Matti Kohenen of Tax Justice network, Lidy Napcil of Jubilee South Asia Pacific Movement on Debt and Development, Shoshanko Bandopadhay of Centre for Budget and Governance Accountability (India), Farukh Tarique and Ehetesham rana of Pakistan labour party, Pradip Kumar Roy of Online Knowledge Society, Hasan Mehedi of Humanity Watch, Moqbul Ahamad of COAST Trust and Siourab Barua of Shongshoptok.

In the key note presentation Syad Aminul Haque mentioned that direct tax in revenue mobilization of Bangladesh is 18 % while indirect tax contribution is 82 %, where VAT is a major part. He said that in developing countries even in countries like in India and Srilanka, contribution of direct tax is around 70 %, 33 % and 31 % respectively. He urged that direct tax net should be expanded. At present only around 50 % TIN (tax identification number) holders are regularly paying taxes.

SASF 2011 Seminar: Climate change and urbanization – Perspective Bagladesh

On 20th of November, 2011 Participatory Development Action Program (PDAP) and Shelter for the Poor have organized a seminar at the Social Science department in Dhaka University. The seminar was chaired by Mr. Farid, Director of Urban Development Directorate, Housing and Public works department, Government of Bangladesh while the Deputy Director of Habitat for Humanity in Bangladesh, Mr Mortin Mukul Roy, Director of ADAB Mr. Aminul Islam, Mr. Albeeroonee, Ed of Shelter for the Poor, Ms Maksuda, Grassroots leader of PDP and Ms. Rebeka Sanyat, Executive Director of Coalition for the Poor (CUP) were present as speaker of the seminar.

Seminar on Climate change and urbanization

The program was moderated by Ms. Quazi Baby, Executive Director of PDAP. During her speech she told that, “This is the high time to aware people on disaster, because Bangladesh is in very risk condition for disaster. She also mentioned, this coutry is already experiencing the adverse impacts- hotter summers, irregular monsoon, untimely rainfall, heavy rainfall over short period causing water logging etc. Aside with the changes in weather pattern, Bangladesh is facing increased frequency, and intensity of natural disasters like cyclone and floods. Salinity intrusion along the coast leading to scarcity of potable water and redundancy of prevailing crop practices becoming a common phenomenon; TNA (Technology Need Assessment) should address all the impacts and sufferings that people are facing in different regions.”

Recommendations from the Seminar includes suggestions that the government should a number of measures including development of women education, remove obstacles from ensuring safe and secured shelter and reduce bureaucracies. Regarding legal service, poor people are most vulnerable and do not get the service. Women abuse, land reform, land ownership, social insecurity – in all sector enforcement of law is very much needed.

At the end, The Chairperson of the seminar Engineer Mr. said, to increase women empowerment, to raise awareness, to improve legal service, it is necessary to make women’s hand stronger and powerful. Side by side men should come forward to implement women’s initiative. He also mentioned that we know there is no sufficient toilet in the poor community and due to open drainage, sometimes children fall down into the drain. No proper education facility, no job opportunity and no safe shelter in the poor community. Although Government has taken some initiatives for the poor inhabitants, but due to lack of proper planning, it is not implementing yet. (press release)

SASF 2011: Seminar On ‘Debt Situation In Bangladesh’

Seminar on Debt Situation In Bangladesh organized by SUPRO. Image by SUPRO.

“The independence of the government in policy making decisions is hampered if foreign loans are taken”

That was the message disseminated by the panelists of a seminar on ‘Debt Situation In Bangladesh’ on November 19, 2011 arranged by SUPRO (Campaign For Good Governance). This was a scheduled event of the ongoing South Asia Social Forum 2011 which took place in the Central Gallery (2nd Floor), Department of Botany (Curzon Hall Area) of Dhaka University.

In this seminar discussants showed that Debt with condition is impeding common and poor people’s access to essential public services. Matti Kohenen of the Tax Justice Network suggested Bangladeshis to carry on development work with SME loans to get better leverage on interests. Associate Professor Riyad Chowdhury of NAEM said that the government should have a policy for foreign loans and grants. The benefits and success of the loans depend on who is receiving the loan and for what.

Seminar at Central Gallery, Dept of Botany. Image courtesy Supro.

Dr. Atia waris, an academician and researcher from Kenya University said that in countries like Bangladesh if the corporate taxes are collected properly, the national budget expenditures can be met without foreign debt. She said that foreign debts are usually utilized in unproductive sectors like secondary share market or real estates and is subject to corruption. So foreign debt induces piling of more debt through accumulation of interest.

The event was moderated by Mohiuddin Ahmed. [Source: press release]

SASF Extended 2011: Seminar on Dalit issues and challenges in Nepal

Actionaid International Nepal had organized one seminar titled “Towards Right to Life with Dignity: Dalit issues and Challenges in Nepal” on 19th November 2011. As a part of the SASF Extended program, the event was live webcast here.

Although officially abolished in 1963, “untouchability” against Dalit, one of the worst forms of caste-based discrimination continues to be practiced throughout Nepal. Dalits who share 13% (Dalit Activists claims 20%) of total population in Nepal have been economically deprived, socially denied, politically excluded and treated as “untouchable caste group” for centuries.

The Dalit movement in Nepal has developed over the years and this is the demand for South Asian countries:

• Dalit issues should be collectively recognized and addressed in the SAARC.
• Formation of Joint Dalit Forum in SAARC as a state mechanism to respond Dalit issues immediately.
• SAARC should make a policy and principle of compensation to Dalit as they are imposed into historical injustice and structural exclusion by the state and non – state institutions.
• United Nation should pass a special resolution to respond 300 million Dalits of South Asia.

Read more about the issue in this Concept Note.