40 youth fellows graduate as human rights advocates

Forty young people from across Bangladesh have graduated from a UNDP-led fellowship aimed at developing community advocates capable of promoting human rights and advancing Sustainable Development Goal 16 on peace, justice and strong institutions.

Supported by the Government of Switzerland, the Human Rights Fellowship equipped participants to raise awareness, encourage the safe reporting of rights violations and promote civic action.

The fellows conducted 241 online orientation sessions, reaching 4,129 young people across every district of Bangladesh, according to a press release.

Fellows, trainers and representatives of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) attended the graduation ceremony in Gazipur on Saturday (25 July).

Participants reflected on the programme's achievements, shared experiences from their communities and discussed ways to expand youth-led human rights education across the country.

The event featured a presentation on the fellowship's impact, reflections from alumni, the distribution of certificates, and discussions on the programme's future.

The fellowship followed a series of Human Rights Orientation Sessions that introduced 287 young people to fundamental human rights concepts.

Forty fellows were selected from 151 applicants and completed an intensive Training of Trainers programme before conducting the orientation sessions.

"These fellows have demonstrated that young people are not only beneficiaries of human rights education. They can also be educators, advocates and trusted voices within their communities," said Dragan Popovic, Senior Programme Advisor for Governance at UNDP Bangladesh.

"Their work shows how knowledge, when combined with leadership and local action, can contribute to a stronger culture of human rights."

A fellow from the Chittagong Hill Tracts said, "The fellowship gave us more than knowledge. It gave us the confidence and practical skills to speak about human rights, engage our communities and help others understand where they can seek support when their rights are violated."

The initiative is part of UNDP's broader efforts to support human rights defenders and strengthen cooperation among young advocates, civil society, the media and national institutions.

Implemented through the Strengthening Institutions, Policies and Services Project with support from Switzerland, the programme seeks to strengthen accountable and inclusive institutions, public oversight, human rights, gender equality, peace and justice in Bangladesh.

Mahmudul Hasan, Project Manager at UNDP, and Sousan Suha, Youth Engagement Analyst, also spoke at the concluding event.