Photo: Collected
The Dhaka University unit of the Human Rights Defenders Society (HRDS) has demanded the establishment of an independent and effective ‘Human Rights Desk/Cell’ at Dhaka University to receive and redress complaints of human rights violations, harassment, discrimination and repression.
The organisation has also sought the opportunity for students to lodge complaints while keeping their identity confidential, and the speedy and impartial disposal of complaints. The DU unit of HRDS submitted a memorandum containing 14-point demands to Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr A B M Obaidul Islam on Wednesday (23 September) afternoon. With this, the unit formally began its journey. At the time, leaders of the organisation greeted the vice-chancellor with flowers.
The demands include a system for lodging complaints of human rights violations online and offline while keeping identity confidential. It has also been said that the sexual harassment prevention committee should be made more effective to ensure confidentiality, impartiality, speed and a victim-friendly process in investigations.
The organisation has sought stronger security for students at important places including the campus, residential halls, transport and the library, and speedy redress in incidents of harassment or violence. There is also a demand to introduce an ‘Emergency Response Mechanism’ to take swift administrative action in cases of serious attack, repression, disappearance, unlawful detention or any other serious human rights crisis.
Besides, HRDS has sought a policy and monitoring system to end discrimination on the grounds of gender, special ability, financial condition, region, language, social identity and religious belief. It has also been said that accessible infrastructure should be ensured in the university’s buildings, transport, library and residential halls for students with special abilities.
Demands have also been made for introducing a university-based referral system to provide initial legal advice and assistance to students in legal complications and incidents of human rights violations, and for regular training on human rights, gender equality, harassment prevention, digital rights and conflict resolution for teachers, students, officers and employees and those concerned with the halls.
The memorandum contains demands for preventing discrimination and harassment on the basis of religion, ethnicity, ethnic group, language, culture and identity, as well as for protecting religious freedom and the housing, education, security and cultural rights of indigenous and small ethnic group students.
Besides, HRDS has sought the formulation of an effective policy to ensure students’ rights to expression, association and peaceful assembly, and a specific roadmap for regular Ducsu and hall union elections. It has also spoken of equal opportunity in the elections, a safe environment, transparency in the voter list and the electoral process, and assurance that students can vote freely.
HRDS President Md Sourav Islam, General Secretary Tanzila Haque Aparajita, Joint General Secretary Md Sabbirul Islam and others were present at the time.
