European Union

Udayankur Seba Sangstha (USS) is a non profitable non political voluntary
organization. USS started its activities on 10th October 1997 at Sadar Upazila of
Nilphamari District. Till 2003 the period was to gather experience without much well
defined strategy. In 2003 USS defined the goal and objectives of the organization in
specific term and undertakes PAR (Participatory Action Research) as main approach to
work with poor and marginalized people in the area. USS envisions a democratic
society free of poverty and inequality where all the people are enjoying freedom, self-
reliant, confident and contributing to the development of country and nation as a citizen
with democratic values. To achieve the vision, USS facilitate a process among the
marginalized people so that they can unmask the apparent and underlying causes of
poverty and take initiatives to overcome the problems collectively.
Improper social attitude among a section of the society and officials towards
women and girls, weak enforcement of women-friendly laws and regulations, slow
but insufficient judicial protection, inadequate social protest and protection, poor
family environment, poor and inadequate intervention from human rights
defenders (HRDs) and weak voice of women human rights defenders (WHRDs)
are the major barriers in case of ensuring women’s and girls’ rights.
Following the above circumstances USS has started journey with the News
Network through a project name Supporting Human Rights Defenders Working for
Women’s and Girls’ Rights in Bangladesh’ to ensure women’s and girls’ rights . It
is a three-year project and activities started in January 2018. The project is
funded and technical support by the European Union (EU) and implemented by
the News Network collaboration with USS in eight districts along the Indo-Bangla
international border namely Satkhira, Jessore, Rajshahi, Niphamari,
Rangpur,Dinajpur, Lalmonirhat and Kurigram. USS is playing directly operational
role in Nilphamari, Lalmonirhat and Kurigram district under Rangpur division.
Objectives: The overall objective of the action is to provide support to Women
Human Rights Defenders and/or Human Rights Defenders (W/HRDs) working for
women’s and girls’ rights in Bangladesh, which is specifically address to;
 To recognise and promote the role of WHRDs in the protection and
promotion of human rights and fundamental freedoms and to
protect them addressing the challenges, risks and threats that
they may face;

To support and protect WHRDs at risk due to their work for the
promotion and protection of the full enjoyment of women’s and
girls’ rights;
Targeted participants:
Media professionals of print, electronic and social medias including potential
young women journalists and rural media gatekeepers-editors, news editors and
executive editors, rural journalists and creative women journalists;
Rural civil society’s organizations’ leaders of both male & female and rural
religious leaders who are working to promote to ensure women’s and girls’ rights;