Human Rights, Civil Society and Nongovernmental Organizations: The Nexus in Bangladesh

During the second half of the twentieth century, civil society organizations and international bodies took renewed interest in promoting equity and harmony in society by protecting the basic civil, political, economic, social, and environmental rights of all people. For them, human progress can only be attained if the civil and political rights of individuals and groups are established and protected. Development will undoubtedly falter if people are not liberated from poverty, provided with basic education, health, safety, a clean and protected environment, and empowered to represent and speak for themselves - all alienable human rights. The Teheran Proclamation of 1968 asserted that "[s]ince human rights and fundamental freedoms are indivisible, the full realization of civil and political rights without the enjoyment of economic, social and cultural rights is impossible." Today, the perception that social and economic rights are an important component of the human rights array is widespread. This perception is vigorously espoused by civil society and its constituent-NGOs, both of which can play an effective role in promoting and protecting human rights in societies, especially where democracy is going through a turbulent period of consolidation.