18 February 2012, Dhaka. BRAC’s Human Rights and Legal Aid Services Programme, the world’s largest NGO led legal aid programme, has sought a unique way to commemorate its 25th anniversary of operations through organising the first ever Human Rights and Technology Seminar in Bangladesh on Saturday February 18th 2012 between 10:00 am-2:00 pm at BRAC Centre Auditorium.

Mr. Ashfaq Hussain, Joint Secretary, Bangladesh Government and e-Specialist, Supporting Digital Bangladesh Project, to the Hon’ble Prime Minister’s Office will attend this event as the Chief Guest and Dr. Mahabub Hossain, Executive Director of BRAC will chair this event. Mr. Syed Aminul Islam, Director (District Judge), National Legal Aid Services Organization (NLASO), Ministry of Law, Justice and Parliament Affairs, Peoples Republic of Bangladesh and Dr. Hameeda Hossain, Chairperson, Ain o Salish Kendra (ASK) will be present as Special Guests.

The seminar intends to find avenues for exchange between the two different sectors that is, those involved in human rights and legal aid service delivery, and experts in technology so as to achieve maximum gains towards human development. This Seminar provides a platform for ICT for Development (ICT4D) with a very specific rights-based focus.

The joint initiative of BRAC HRLS and BRAC ICT, the software application called iCRESS (Integrated Collaboration and Emergency Support Services) will be demonstrated and shared in the seminar. This application provides a wide range of services to connect different end points of human rights service delivery operations. By using this software land entrepreneurs can send alerts and receive updates to HRLS at the Headquarter and HRLS is also able to monitor field operations in real time through tracking applications.

BRAC started its Human Rights and Legal Aid Services Programme in 1986 with an aim to provide access of legal education and legal aid services to the vulnerable and disadvantaged. Currently the programme operates 530 Legal Aid Clinics in 61 districts across the country.