Promotion of Social Partnership for Empowerment of marginalized communities in 6 districts and at national level in Bangladesh (PROSPECT)

Civil society in Bangladesh is subject to massive repression; the Atlas of Civil Society (2019) classifies the country as "oppressed". This is accompanied by the fact that civil society networks for the protection of human rights are largely inactive. Human Rights Defenders (HRD) face a massive increase in threats, violence and repression. The programme districts show very high rates of violence against women (e.g. domestic violence, rape, child marriage), religious minorities and indigenous groups (e.g. land seizure, expulsion, destruction of houses and religious sites); local and regional authorities are characterised by corruption and lack of accountability. There is a significant deficit in HRD in terms of capacities, structures and networks for its work to protect the rights of marginalised groups and for conflict-sensitive dialogue with government public authorities