Critical analysis on functional unit of Ain O Salish Kendra (ASK)

Abstract

Ain O Salish Kendra (ASK) has passed yet another year of activism, which was also the final year of the project titled “promoting Gender Equality, Human Rights, Democracy and social justice”, the Expressed goal of which was seeking the establishment of the rule of rule of law based on those titular principles. Ain O Salish (ASK) has focused on creating an enabling environment where citizens are able to demand their rights and entitlements regardless of their class, caste, ethnicity religion or gender as enshrined in Bangladesh’s constitution. ASK has also been committed to creating an atmosphere for building capacity and confidence among the disenfranchised segments of the population, in particular enabling them to protect their basic human rights and demand good governance, accountability and transparency from the state machineries and other relevant authorities. It is of significance that the year 2016 was the 45th year of independence for Bangladesh and, for the present government, the fourth of its five- year term. Intense scrutiny of devolvement’s in the human rights situation of the country over the past year is therefore crucial to successful strategic visioning for ASK’s future role in the country.Notable achievement can be cited in the areas of legal directives and reforms; policies and acts related to women and children; and institution building as part of the government initiatives as well as that of related activist organizations and NGOs for the promotion and prevention of violence against women and children. However, there is no doubt that Bangladesh has become a more unequal society in terms of people’s access to recourse and justice. “The State of Human Rights in Ten Asian Nations 2016”, published by Asian human Rights commission (2016), refers to “ obstacles and systemic lacuna that prevent the effective protection of rights and enable impunity for the perpetration of violations.” The report continues, “The Human Rights situation in Bangladesh is still influenced by confrontational politics. Extrajudicial killings and enforced disappearance; alleged and suspected wrong- doers being beaten to death by mobs; fragile law and order situation, culture of impunity leading to general sense of insecurity in people’s minds . It cannot be denied that corruption is increasingly linked to violation of human rights.I wish everyone my best and look forward to another year of working together for the next phase of ASK’s program.