Promoting Human Rights and Education in Bangladesh (PHREB)

PHREB, Promoting Human Rights and Education in Bangladesh is an emerging organization in the field of women’s rights. The organization consists of youthful, passionate individuals that are eager to make a difference to Bangladeshi society and the lives of women worldwide.  We believe the key to positive social change is through action-oriented education to change the mind-set of today’s youth to enable them to create a better future tomorrow. To allow them to implement these changes PHREB aims to foster a suitable environment for their activism. PHREB believes that good governance and equality for all, regardless of gender, age, race or ethnicity, is essential. With these ideas in mind, PHREB is working towards a paradigm shift in Bangladeshi society to enable freedom and justice for all citizens.

Inside, we have detailed the various projects that are currently underway, as well as those we aim to work on in the future. PHREB is a progressive organization, constantly evolving in the face of change. To help us accomplish our goals, we believe it essential to build alliances and networks with other organizations around the world working for the same principles to develop a sense of solidarity and to maintain a positive outlook.

Why PHREB was founded?

Violence against women and girls are rampant in Bangladesh. In most of the Bangladeshi societies women are not considered as human being. Girls are not born here as free and equal. They are not treated the same as boys. Their rights to freedom from discrimination, right to life and to live in freedom and safety, right to justice, right to privacy, freedom to move, right to marry and have a family on their choices, right to own things, freedom of thoughts, right to speak out, right to democracy, the right to social security, right to do a job and to a fair wage for their work and to join a trade union, right to rest from work and to relax, right to good life, the right to education, the right to a free and fair world are often ignored in most of the societies in Bangladesh.

The integrated and participatory nature of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) ought to provide a means by which to alleviate such circumstances. PHREB (Promoting Human Rights and Education in Bangladesh) attempts to put theory into practice. The promotion and implementation of human rights of women and girls and ethnic minorities, of ensuring access to justice and information, to reproductive and sexual health, elimination of all forms of violence against women and girls, good governance and gender equality in society are of utmost importance to PHREB. A focus on the young women in society is considered a paramount target group and a valuable medium through which such values may foster.

Mr. Faridul Alam, a young Bangladeshi student of Law, founded PHREB in December 2003 on the eve of International Human Rights Day.

PHREB is based in Chittagong. Its staff is comprised of both educated and experienced Bangladeshi and international professionals, students and volunteers.

What is the purpose of PHREB?

PHREB considers the promotion of human rights and education in Bangladesh as the most succinct and direct means by which to develop and sustain an equitable society. It seeks to eliminate all forms of discrimination against women and girls and ethnic minorities in particular. PHREB upholds the virtues of a democratic society, transparency and respect for cultural and physical difference, with the intent of pursuing human rights through such mediums. It recognizes the importance of freedom of speech, of operative agency within a society, equal access (in all of class, gender and racial terms) to natural resources, to education and to employment opportunities. PHREB wishes to maintain and develop such understandings of an equitable society, as well as the execution of such rights in the modern world. PHREB acknowledges and respects the human rights listed in the constitution of Bangladesh, and the respective UN Convention documents.

PHREB empowers women to articulate, demand and access their human rights by enhancing women’s leadership and focusing on issues of reproductive and sexual health, gender equality, and good governance, violence against young woman, women’s rights and social justice.