COUNCIL OF MINORITIES A SPACE TO RAISE STATELESS VOICES IN BANGLADESH The Council of Minorities (CoM) is a human rights organisation that works to establish the rights of different minority communities in Bangladesh. Since 2013, the organisation has been working to promote the rights of the Urdu-speaking formerly stateless people who live in urban slums and ‘camps’ around Bangladesh. Action Award (EUR 25,000) READ MORE ON COVID-19 This project conducted field research to better understand the impact of IMPACTS IN BANGLADESH HERE COVID-19 on the Urdu speaking community, and then implement activities to provide the community with assistance they lack due to structural discrimination. Research findings were used to train paralegals and volunteers to become ‘rights defenders’, who undertook casework to assisted community members through legal procedures. CoM carried out door to door outreach, 110 community group meetings, one national seminar and distributed multiple publications on COVID-19 and its impacts. Their work facilitated access to essential government services and provided support to formerly stateless, stateless and those at risk of statelessness people. CoM collaborated with legal organisations, engaged with key stakeholders including District Commissioners and representatives of local government, the National Human Rights Commissions, The Ministry of Relief and Rehabilitation, MPs and relevant UN agencies. The project focused on COVID-19 relief, but also raised concerns regarding Bangladesh’s 2016 Draft Citizenship Bill. Impact • Prior to the project, those living in camps were not very aware of COVID-19, its effects and various precautions that can be taken to protect oneself. Through doorto-door outreach, over 11,500 people were informed about COVID-19 related sanitisation and precautionary measures. These activities resulted in communities beginning to actively use PPE and maintain social distancing. • CoM organised four advocacy meetings which resulted in camp members receiving emergency government relief and the distribution of food. • They directly assisted 582 people access COVID-19 vaccinations and educated over 11,500 people on vaccinations. Future Plans CoM aims to engage in advocacy on the implementation of a landmark 2008 High Court Judgment which recognised the community’s right to citizenship, to protect citizenship rights and work towards the permanent rehabilitation of camp dwellers in Bangladesh. CoM has also established a think-tank to work on citizenship rights of the community. With sustained funding, CoM will be able to implement its advocacy strategy and continue to serve the community. CITIZENSHIP AFFECTED PEOPLES NETWORK – FOSTERING SOLIDARITY AND RESILIENCE IN NEPAL Formed in 2015, the Citizenship Affected Peoples’s Network (CAPN) is a movement comprising over 1800 people affected by Nepal’s gender discriminatory nationality law. CAPN finds creative and powerful ways to raise the voices of affected people, strengthen their resilience and lobby for equal citizenship rights and the eradication of statelessness. Scoping and Action Awards (EUR 25,000) The project aimed to respond to the impacts of COVID-19 on stateless people and spread awareness about statelessness in Nepal. This was done primarily through the production and publication of a podcast series. The Network also established a dedicated helpline to offer psychological and legal services to affected people and engaged in advocacy efforts for equal citizenship rights. READ MORE ON COVID-19 IMPACTS IN NEPAL HERE Impact • Ten podcast episodes were recorded, featuring people with lived experience of statelessness and other experts. The podcasts help give voice to and strengthen community among stateless people in Nepal. • 14 With support from Nationality For All (see below), CAPN developed its strategic plan, organised its first in-person annual meeting, laid down a roadmap for change and built strategic alliances with partners.