Dhaka University Hosts the 2nd SOCCHAR National Workshop on Human Rights & Leadership 2026
The 2nd SOCCHAR National Workshop on Human Rights & Leadership 2026 was held at the University of Dhaka, organized by Socchar – Torture WatchDog Bangladesh, with the aim of promoting human rights awareness, ethical leadership, and democratic values among young people.
The day-long national workshop took place on Saturday at the Kazi Motahar Hossain Building of the Department of Geography and Environment at the University of Dhaka. Students from universities across the country, young leaders, human rights activists, researchers, lawyers, and development professionals participated in the event.
The workshop featured a series of sessions led by national and international experts on human rights, justice, ethical leadership, democratic participation, constitutional protections, the ethical documentation of torture survivors’ information, and student leadership.
In the opening session, Barrister Shaikh Mahdi, Prosecutor at the International Crimes Tribunal and Director of the Legal Support Department of Socchar, spoke on “Human Rights and Justice in the Light of Law.” He discussed the role of legal and judicial institutions in protecting human rights, ways to ensure justice for victims, and the responsibilities and social accountability of young human rights defenders.
The following session was conducted by John Fluharty, Resident Program Director of the International Republican Institute (IRI) in Bangladesh. He highlighted the importance of democratic participation, civic leadership, and active youth engagement. He encouraged young people to take responsible leadership roles within their communities, engage with democratic institutions, and contribute to positive social change.
Dr. Mohammad Shawgatul Islam, Executive Director of Bioted, spoke on mental health and human rights. He noted that torture and ragging in educational institutions can create fear, anxiety, and psychological stress among students, leading to long-term mental health risks. He called for building a culture grounded in human rights and mutual respect.
Md. Zahid Hossain, Senior Human Rights and Governance Specialist at the United Nations Human Rights Mission in Dhaka, conducted a session titled “The Foundation of Ethical Courage in Building Human Rights Defenders.” He emphasized that effective human rights defenders must uphold evidence-based positions, respect differing opinions, responsibly document human rights violations, remain aware of digital and personal security concerns, and embody integrity, accountability, and humanitarian values.
During the practical training session, Disha Sarkar, Project Manager at the Human Rights Development Centre, provided training on the safe and ethical documentation of information from torture survivors. The session covered methods of taking testimonies, protecting identities and confidentiality, obtaining informed consent, and securely handling sensitive information.
In the afternoon, Rahnuma Siddika, a PhD researcher in the Department of Political Science at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and Director of the Outreach Department of Socchar, delivered a presentation titled “How Student Leadership and Social Engagement Shape Careers.” She discussed how student leadership, volunteerism, and human rights-based social initiatives contribute to personal and professional development.
Constitutional expert Shahadat Hossain later spoke on “Human Rights Protection in the Constitution of Bangladesh.” He stressed that every citizen should be aware of their rights and seek lawful remedies whenever human rights violations occur.
The closing session was delivered by Dr. Shibbir Ahmed, President of Socchar – Torture WatchDog Bangladesh, on the future strategic leadership and action plan of the Socchar Students Network. He outlined plans to strengthen human rights-based student leadership across educational institutions, expand the organization’s network, and implement future initiatives.
Throughout the workshop, participants actively engaged in question-and-answer sessions, group exercises, discussions, and networking activities. Certificates were awarded to participants at the end of the program. They also pledged to work for the protection and promotion of human rights within their respective campuses and communities.
The 2nd SOCCHAR National Workshop on Human Rights & Leadership 2026 was more than a training program—it was an important initiative to build a strong national network of young human rights defenders from universities across Bangladesh.
Socchar – Torture WatchDog Bangladesh reaffirmed its commitment to continuing such initiatives in the future to develop youth leadership in advancing human rights, justice, and democratic values.