Model United Nations workshop at Rajshahi University

My heartiest congratulation to Rajshahi University Model United Nations Association (RUMUNA) team for their hard work and success in forming this organization at their university. I am also glad that this team has been inspired for this initiative through DUNMUN. These boys and girls are really praising that they formed this organization within a couple of months after DUNMUN 2013. RUMUNA along with UNYSA Bangladesh organized a great workshop on Model United Nations at Rajshahi University. RUMUNA should be given the credit for all their hard works in organizing the workshop.

All participants, RUMUNA Members, UNYSA Bangladesh President an Facilitators

I along with Mohammad Mamun Mia, President of UNYSA Bangladesh, Shiddharto Goswami, Former General Secretary of DUMUNA and Habibur Rahman, Former Director of UNYSA Bangladesh went to Rajshahi for facilitating the workshop. Students from Rajshahi University and from some school and college joined the workshop. All the participants were awesome and hopefully enjoyed the workshop a lot. With an opening session chaired by Arsadur Rahman the workshop started. Student advisor of Rajshahi University Professor Sadekul Arefin Matin was present as in the chief guest.

Participants in ice breaking session

After the opening session, the workshop started with the ice breaking session of Mamun vai. All participants got the chance to know each other through this session and also learned a lesson on team work and leadership capability. Following that ice breaking, probal da came up with a very short introduction of Model United Nations (MUN) and its emergence in Bangladesh. With various energizer activities he made the session lively. He also facilitated a part on “Rules and Procedures” of MUN. Later, I have covered the rest part on “Rules and Procedures” including-Motions and Points, Application of Motions and Points, its uses and others. Another most important part of MUN is preparing position paper, working paper and draft resolution. Habib vai took the last part of the workshop. He explained and practically made the participants understand how they can use different clauses in preparing draft resolutions. After that session, Mamun vai rapped up the workshop with an overall explanation on the workshop activity.

Distributing certificates among the participants

Following that session a mock session on MUN was held chaired by Habib Vai. Arko and Ritom from RUMUNA performed as accordingly co-chair/director and rapporteur. With the distribution of certificates among the participants the workshop came to an end.

Women, Poverty and Human Rights: A Two Days Learning Programme

Emi apa conducting a session

A two days’ workshop on “Women, Poverty and Human Rights: A Two Days Learning Programme” was held at YWCA organized by SAFA for ESCR and PWESCR. This workshop started in the morning on 2^nd April and ended in the evening of 3^rd April with the certificate giving ceremony and sharing of experiences of participants. Participants came from a much diversified areas and from many remote places of Bangladesh- Khulna, Barisal, Jessore, Pabna, Kishorganj, Madaripur, Rangamati and many others. There was participant from different local and international NGOs like BRAC, RUN, Mati, CMMS, CHRS, Naripokkho, Nagorik Uddoge, BMKS, AFAD, Sharoney, UBINIG and from many other NGOs, there were university students as well as women chairman from some Upazillas of Bangladesh. This two days’ workshop was facilitated by Afsana Chowdhury Emi from Center for Human Rights Studies, Ferdous Rumi from Naripokkho and Faisal Bin Majid from BNPS. Kripa Basnyat from PWESCR was there all the time during the two days’ workshop and worked with the facilitators in conducting session. I was there as an interpreter from CHRS.

Participants in ice breaking session

The two days’ workshop started with an ice breaking session to help the participants to know each other well and bring them into the purpose of the event. The ice breaking session was conducted by Emi apa. Then she presented the ground rules of the training session and every participant agreed with the rules and proceeded with the workshop activities. After that Faisal vai started the session of “Understanding Gender”. With stories and participatory activities he made the session so lively. Faisal vai also lead the session on “Sex and Gender”, “Understanding Poverty and Feminization of Poverty”. In the last session participants were divided into four groups and they come up with real story of four marginalized women of Bangladesh. Later the groups were asked to audit the spaces and resources that could be used by all those marginalized women if they had the access to and where they could go for help and service to improve their positions. Following the group work the first day come to an end.

Interpreting the group works

On the earlier of the second day there was a very short introduction on dignity, presentation “Introduction to Human Rights”, “Relation between CPR and ESCR” and “Understanding Equality” by Emi. Following this session, Rumee apa conducted the next session of “Understanding Economic, Social and Cultural Rights”. She also gave presentation on Need Based and Right Based Approach. After the lunch break Rumee apa conducted the session on “How to develop a framework of rights for us”. To enhance the capability of women we need to ensure the framework of 3AQ- Accessibility, Availability, Adequacy and Quality. Following Rumee apa’s session, Emi apa conducted the session on “Understanding the Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights”. Finally, this workshop come at end with the last session of the workshop on state obligation by Emi apa.

Faisal vai in a session

In the closing and certificate giving session Priti Darooka from PWESCR, Selina Akhter from ASK, Tamanna Khan from Naripokkho and Sayida Akhter from Nagrantha Probartona was present and delivered their greetings to the participants.

Group Photo with all participants and organizers