Governance & Human Rights

Human rights and governance are the central discourses of JJS Endeavour. This thematic area aims to address the regional human rights and governance issues derived from the poor peoples view. JJS thinks that the constraints of development in Bangladesh are poor governance and weak institutions. Over the years increased corruption, mismanagement and none existence of transparency resulted in declining confidence in the public sector and party politics besides increasing the state bureaucracy. To ensure peoples right, JJS thinks that the governance should be pro-people, participatory, responsive, accountable, transparent and efficient. Otherwise rule of law cannot be established and corruption will strongly exist in the society. This program does also provide policy and technical support to other programs and rights based campaigns of JJS as a central governance promotion sector.

Campaign for Responsive Governance
Governance is one of the mostly pronounced words presently to promote development in poor countries like Bangladesh. Good governance can intervene many problematic areas to ease the way development ensuring democracy of poor people in real sense. The poor people ought to have the freedom of choice of economic activities, socio-political activities etc. which are still far away in our country. Realizing the reality, JJS is working with the responsive governance from its inception stage to strengthen the constituency of poor and marginal people.
 

Broad Objective
To strengthen the constituency of poor, disadvantaged, marginal and socially excluded people for promoting their human rights along with gender equity and work towards better governance with more accountable public institutions

Focus Population
Poor marginal people, women, youths, LEB members, local influential people, government health service providers, teachers, SMC members, journalists, social activists, Civil Society

Location
Rupsha Upazila, Koyra Upazila and Khulna City Area of Khulna District

 

Broad Based Coalition & Advocacy for Human Rights
This project primarily aims to ensure and protect human rights among the poor, disadvantaged and marginal people through formation of different rights watch committee and through advocacy with key policy actors and service providers. Different trainings, workshops are conducted with the committee members to enhance their capacity regarding human rights prevention and to provide supports for victimized people.


Human Rights Education Project
The purpose of this project is to encourage and strengthen the people on human rights conservation and prevention of violation through raising mass awareness on human rights at grass roots level. This project is now going on five Unions of Bagerhat Sadar Upazila of Bagerhat district.
 

Projects

Environment, Food Sovereignty & Globalization

JJS takes the stand that biodiversity should be the basis of guarantee to food security as a fundamental non-negotiable rights of all peoples. JJS takes the stand of opposing intellectual property over any form of life. JJS strongly supports the call to take agriculture out of the WTO. JJS thinks, by avoiding the so-called modern technologies and agro-based companies erosion of the resource bases must be halted. JJS opposed, not advances in knowledge, but its monopolization and inappropriate uses.

Improving asset and income position of poor people is another manifesto of JJS for securing food sovereignty of poor farmers, forest users and other marginal people. Poor people have the right to get credit from government institutions. But the public institutions failed to provide credit access to the poor. Hence JJS aimed from the very beginning to provide them credit access to build and secure their asset and income position. At the grass root level peoples organizations (Shomities) are build at first to make them aware about their rights to the government, provide basic knowledge and skill on livelihood and income generation, prove micro credit for earning and make them capable for savings to face foreseen and unforeseen shocks.

However, Bangladesh is facing numerous environmental problems; some of these are very distinctive for Khulna region. Among these natural hazards salinity, artificial water logging due to coastal embankment and irresponsive shrimp farming, bio-diversity loss and increasing social conflicts due to commercial shrimp cultivation, arsenic contamination in ground water –these are very common phenomena. Besides deforestation, top dieing and loss of biodiversity in the Sundarbans Reserved Forest –the world largest mangrove eco-system is another unique problem. Increasing salinity and ecological damage due to rapid reduction of sweet water flow especially from ‘the Gorai’, ‘the Kopatakkho’ and ‘the Maathavanga’ is another environmental crisis of this region. JJS thinks of sustainable environmental management to mitigate the contemporary and probable environmental hazards. JJS also believes that, the course of nature should maintain its route and human interference to this scenario in the name of development must be stopped. JJS is very much aware of the issues concerning the coastal ecology, local biodiversity and global environment as well. It works with the local opinion leaders, Khulna University student activists, and youth clubs for conservation and development of Sundarbans.

Food Sovereignty Campaign
Components of this campaign includes to attain sustainable improvements in livelihoods and basic services of poor and disadvantaged people, combat environmental degeneration, protect farmer’s rights and promote environment friendly local resource based agricultural practices. Khulna regions have some distinctive environmental problems like deforestation, loss of biodiversity in Sundarbans Forest, increasing salinity due to excessive commercial aquaculture, intensified land use and pollutions by the unplanned use of fertilizer & pesticides etc. which threaten the livelihood security of the marginal people and poor occupants. In addition, diversification in farming practice and constraints in market access are also causing obscurity to achieve food sovereignty. As a result JJS is trying to make the poor & marginal farmers sensitized and organized about the potentials of indigenous knowledge and its practice in farming and foresting. JJS also assist them raising their voice to protect local bio-diversity and claim their rights over natural resources. Aiming to achieve food sovereignty, JJS has already started to work on eco-farming and formed local seed network for the conservation of local plant varieties. It will be more strengthened in future to gain a secured livelihood of the poor farmers.

Broad Objective
To mobilize local community and poor occupants for getting sufficient access and control over natural resources to ensure food sovereignty and livelihood security along with to conserve the environment from severe pollutions and external threats

Focus Population
Poor community people, marginal occupants like farmers, fishermen, forest resources users like Mawal, Bawal, community leaders, LEB members, journalists, environmental activists, development workers

Location
Rupsha Upazila, Koyra Upazila and Khulna City Area of Khulna District


Save Sundarbans Campaign
Sundarbans, one of the world heritages, is under threat due to various man-made and natural reasons demanding intensive conservations activities. A number of people living Sundarbans Impact Zone are traditionally using forest resources for their livelihoods for long years. Realizing the overall situation JJS is implementing this campaign using awareness activities, conservation education, advocacy etc. as tools to conserve the Sundarbans.
 

Institution Formation for Asset Building
JJS engaged for years to make the small, deprived and marginal people organized and self-sufficient through its IB project from 1993. JJS believes that these people can mainstream in the country's economic activities by their capacity building through education and training. This project mainly aims to strengthen the social awareness, socio-economic structure and to strong the economic base of the families of the marginal people. On support of these, JJS provide micro credit supports to these people with flexible conditions besides providing education, training and awareness and also ensuring human rights.

Projects

AIDS, Trafficking, Violence and Rights

Campaign on Sex Workers' Human Rights
Women involved in commercial sex works are one of the utmost oppressed groups excluded by larger number of people of the society. Socio-cultural tradition of long years and religious taboos are the constraints at zenith to enjoy their human rights. Accordingly JJS aims to establish an exploitation free environment for commercial sex workers. It also intends to raise awareness on HIV/AIDS, women and children trafficking among the vulnerable people of the society. There is a chain relationship among trafficking, sex works and STD & HIV/AIDS. Mainly a major number of trafficked women and children destined to sex works who are high risk group to STD/HIV/AIDS. Considering the overall aspects, JJS has working on trafficking issues from 2002 and also launched a campaign to free sex workers from bonded status and create breathing space for them and their children to enjoy their rights. JJS is also aiming to continue its awareness-raising and preventive activities on STD, HIV/AIDS in the respective working areas and risk areas.

Broad Objective
To raise awareness for prevention and reduction of STD and HIV/AIDS among the vulnerable people and to reduce woman and child trafficking & Violence

Focus Population
Sex workers, Clients, Children, Brokers, Dada, Babu, Mashi, Gharali, Police, Government officials, local elite people, religious leaders, local elected people, journalists (Dacope Upazila of Khulna District and Bagerhat Sadar Upazila of Bagerhat district)


HIV/AIDS Prevention Project
HIV/AIDS Prevention Project (HAPP) was initiated by the Government of Bangladesh with an aim to prevent the HIV infection within high-risk groups, and to limit its spread into the general population, without stigmatizing the vulnerable groups. Internal migration usually occurs within the country mainly for searching employment which leads to high degree of vulnerability to various social, economic and health problems. Since the beginning of the AIDS epidemic in different parts of the world, significantly higher rates of HIV infection has been documented among the migrants than general people. In Bangladesh the most recent 2003 sero-surveillance data confers that HIV remains still less then 1% among internal migrants, but there is nothing to be complacence. Through this project majority of internal migrants would be equipped with necessary knowledge and skill to protect themselves from the risk and spread and consequences of HIV/AIDS.

JJS is implementing the HAPP activities with PKSP from October 2004 leaded by HASAB. As an inception stage of the project, conducted activities of the project in 2004 mainly are primary level. The major activities of this project are stated below.

Broad Objective
To prevention of HIV/AIDS among the internal migrants though minimize the risk, spread & impact of HIV/AIDS and other STI
 

Focus Population
Bus/Truck drivers, Rickshaw/Van/Push cart pullers, Fish processing workers, Boatmen, Sailors & Dock labourers

Location of HAPP
Rupsha DIC Daulatpur, Bagerhat, Mongla
Jessore DIC Jhenaidah & Benapole
Kushtia DIC Chuadanga
Rangpur DIC Burimari, Syedpur, & Gobindaganj
Dinajpur DIC Thakurgaon, and Hilli


Socially Disadvantaged Peoples' Project-Outreach
Sex workers are one of the most disadvantaged and marginal groups of the society having hardly access to basic services provided by the state. Moreover, social acceptance of these people is very discourteous. JJS is working this marginal group for years to ensure their rights and this year it has started the SDPP from October 2004 in Baniashanta brothel of Dacope Upazila and Bagerhat brothel of Bagerhat Sadar supported by Concern Bangladesh. The project mainly aims to provide different support and services to the sex workers.

Focus Population
Sex workers, Gharali, Dada, Mashi, Babu, local police authorities, LEB members, local influential people, journalists, religious leaders (Baniashanta Brothel, Dacop Upazila Bagerhat Brothel, Bagerhat Sadar)

Projects

Projects	AID Partners
Campaign on Sex Workers Human Rights Project
Prevention of Acid Violence Through Awareness Building and Control over Acid Selling.	ActionAid Bangladesh
Socially Disadvantage People Project	Concern-Bangladesh
HIV/AIDS Prevention Project (HAPP)	Ministry of Women & Family welfare and UNICEF
Nari O Shishu Nirjaton Protirodh Forum (NSNP)	ActionAid Bangladesh

Child Rights and Quality Education

Quality Education Campaign
JJS believes that education is the basic component for socio-economic transformation and advancement of our country and also the prime ingredient of human resource development. While spending in education sector has increased over the years, the quality and relevance of the public sector’s education system is continuing to decline, especially for poor households. Current educational programmes are inadequate to address issues such as lack of access to education especially for families living poor or remote areas of the country, shortage and/or inefficient use of government and donors resources, lack of motivation and poor quality teaching. As JJS believe that education is the most fundamental right of citizens consequently basic level education should be provided by public sector, it has decided to decrease its direct educational services at primary and adult education level rather it provide emphasis on enhancing the quality of services and access for the poor people.

Broad Objective
To promote children sensitivity in the family, society & institutions and to broaden the access to basic and relevant quality education for children and adult illiterate

Focus Population
Children, Guardians, Teachers, SMC members, Members of Upazila Education Committee, Govt. education officials, Members of civil society, local influential people, LEB members

Location
Rupsha Upazila and Koyra Upazila of Khulna District



Reflect
JJS has been implementing Reflect programme for empowering the marginal and disadvantaged women since long. In 2004, JJS has executed 20 Reflect circles comprised of with ten post circles and ten basic circles in Uttar Bedkashi and Dakkhin Bedkashi Union of Koyra Upazila of Khulna district. Almost 894 stakeholders were participated in these circles.

Reflect is an innovative approach for the literacy programme, which combines with PRA and the literacy approach of Paolo Freiry (a philosopher of Brazil). Through this programme, the participants become literate without using any primers. Each Reflect Circle comprises of 15 to 25 female participants and runs for two hours in a day. Here the participants discuss problems of their community or from their daily life to identify problems and show it in graphics. They also prepare map, matrix, calendar and diagram using PRA techniques regarding their area and socio-economic issues. This session is facilitated by a facilitator selected from the community. During the session the participants identify one single word and learn alphabets regarding the word. This basic course of Reflect continues up to 9 months. After 9 months the process continues in Post Circle phase for the next one year. JJS provide books, materials and knowledge support to increase the literacy skill of the participants. Through Reflect it is expected that the poor women will be conscious, literate, gender sensitised and organised about their basic rights.


Child Rights Campaign
Child Rights Campaign primarily aims to sensitize all the stakeholders about the rights of the children. Children have the rights to talk about and take decisions regarding their affairs. They have to grow up as a self sufficient to face the future challenges. If they can practice decision making process, discussion about problems and get the cultural consciousness, they will indeed be the best leaders of any country. So the guardians and other peoples should be aware about these issues and JJS is working for years in this respect.

Broad Objective
To promote children sensitivity in the family, society & institutions and to broaden the access to basic and relevant quality education for children and adult illiterate

Focus Population
Children, Guardians, Teachers, SMC members, Members of Upazila Education Committee, Govt. education officials, Members of civil society, local influential people, LEB members

Location
Rupsha Upazila and Koyra Upazila of Khulna District


Sponsorship
Sponsorship programme mainly aims to ensure child rights through awareness campaigns among the guardians and community people. Using children clubs of Child Rights Campaign this awareness programmes is going on among 1099 children and guardians of Rupsha and Koyra Upazila.


Juvenile Justice Project
As a signatory country of UNCRC, Bangladesh still faces different drawbacks to ensure the rights of the children due to dearth of effective laws and its apposite uses. Children, who are in jail for different reasons, mostly denied basic necessities of life and endure abusive behavior from adult prisoners and jail authorities although there are several laws to protect their rights. In article 51 of Children Act 1974, it is strictly prohibited to keep the children with adult prisoners but poor implementation of this law inapt to protect children’s rights. In addition, all juvenile offenders up to their 16 age can not be protected by this Act. Some of them are considered under Special Power Act and under the Public Safety Act 2000 where children are also not considered differently from adults. Detention, even if only for a short period, may have a serous effect on the demographic and social behaviour of the children. Using existing legal and administrative infrastructure it is quite possible to keep children in correction centre, shelter home rather in jail with adults. Therefore, it is essential to bring a change in this regard to protect the children which demand massive awareness among the stakeholders. JJS with the support of Save the Children-UK is trying to do so from 2002.

Broad Objective
To develop a mechanism to cooperate the administration of juvenile justice by facilitating coordination among the relevant stakeholders with particular emphasis on jail monitoring by the Non-Official Jail Visitors

Focus Population
Juvenile, Judiciary, Police, Probation Officers, Jailor, Jail Super, authorities of Legal Aid Associations and Corrections Institutes, Non-Officials Jail visitors, and members of Nari o Shishu Nirjatan Protirodh Forum.

Project Location
Khulna
Jessore
Bagerhat
Satkhira
Narail
Magura
Jhenaidah
Gopalganj


Non Formal Primary Education
It is a course based education programme of three years. The poor children (5-10 years aged) who do not enrol in primary schools or dropped out from schools are enrolled in NFPE schools. In these schools reading books, note books, pencils and other education materials are provided students at free of cost. The school runs three hours everyday comprising 30-35 students who are managed by one teacher.

JJS has a bright background in the field of continuing education programme. The first NFPE school was launched in 1993 in Rupsha Upazila of Khulna district. Now the coverage extend to Rupsha, Khulna Sadar, Terokhada upazila of Khulna district and Begerhat Sadar of Bagerhat district.
 

Projects

Projects	AID Partners
Child Protection: Community Mechanism & National Policy	Save the Children-UK
Non Formal Primary Education (NFPE)	BRAC
Shishu Kendra	Own Fund
Children Forum	Own Fund
Reflect ICT	ActionAid Bangladesh

 Disaster Preparedness and Mitigation

Emergency Operation
People of the coastal regions of a disaster prone country like Bangladesh are more vulnerable than other regions. Disasters trends of this region show intensity of several climatic hazards which demands strong capacity of the local people to fight against disasters. But poverty, practice of corrupted socio-political power, lack of proper public services etc. are continuously abasing the capacity of local people for disaster preparedness. Hence JJS aims to fortify the local disaster preparedness practice and also to raise voice for environmental governance. JJS works for disaster management and capacity building with local government bodies at district, Upazila and union level, prepare hazard mapping and do vulnerability analysis for disaster preparedness. Besides, JJS works for disaster response like relief and rehabilitation for the disaster affected people in and around its working areas.

Broad Objective
To strengthen community based disaster preparedness and response initiatives especially in the case of climatic disaster and raise voice for environmental governance against foreseen & unforeseen hazards.

Project

Comprehensive Disaster Management Project(CDMP)

UNDP