SWADHINATA project is designed to empower journalists, human rights defenders, and civil society organizations to navigate digital challenges—particularly misinformation and disinformation—by championing freedom of expression (FoE). It focuses on raising public awareness, with special emphasis on women, minorities, youth, and marginalized groups, encouraging them to speak up and overcome self-censorship. The project bolsters local advocacy for media freedom and transparent governance, while also establishing a national support system to safeguard participants’ digital and legal security. Furthermore, it seeks to engage duty bearers in promoting inclusive decision-making and responsive governance. The project also supports ongoing efforts to uphold freedom of expression through the implementation of the Right to Information Act, reform of the Foreign Donation Regulation Act, and revisions to the Cyber Security Act, ensuring long-term impact and accountability.

Goal:

To enable CSOs, media actors and HRDs in Bangladesh to promote democracy by safeguarding freedom of expression in both online and offline spaces.

Outcomes:

1. Civil society, human rights defenders (HRD), and media actors, successfully promote fundamental rights, create public awareness and inclusive debate, while countering disinformation, misinformation, and online harassment.
2. Conducive environment is established where people, incl. youth, minorities and marginalized people, enjoy open internet, media freedom and access quality information to form opinions and speak up to participate in political, cultural and social life.

Geographical Area Covered:

Division: 8 (Barisal, Chittagong, Dhaka, Khulna, Mymensingh, Rajshahi, Rangpur, Sylhet.)

Districts: 64

Target Population:

SWADHINATA project targets a diverse and inclusive group to promote freedom of expression, civic engagement, and support them in navigating digital challenges, particularly in countering misinformation and disinformation across Bangladesh. The initiative directly engages 128 Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), including youth groups, women-led organizations, and those working with marginalized communities, gender diverse individuals, and persons with disabilities (PWDs). It collaborates with the National Youth Council (NYC) under the Department of Youth Development (DYD), Ministry of Youth and Sports, which empowers youth by involving them in decision-making actions. The project also partners with 8 Women’s Rights Organizations (WROs), one in each division, to strengthen civic space and increase women’s participation in public discourse. It associates with a nationwide network of 800 alumni of the National Children Task Force (NCTF), who are active youth leaders across 64 districts, along with a Youth Journalist Network of 64 members. 340 journalists, as well as 8 community radios and 8 local media outlets, play a crucial part in fostering free speech, civic space, and government accountability. Additionally, 15 social media influencers and 160 local content creators produce impactful content to raise awareness and promote freedom of expression (FoE). Strategic partners such as the Bangladesh Federal Union of Journalists (BFUJ) advocate for journalists’ rights nationwide. The project also involves 75 government duty bearers from the Ministry of Youth & Sports, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, ICT Division, and local administrations, along with 4 policymakers crucial for enacting laws and frameworks that support FoE and democracy. Collaboration extends to 1 national and 8 divisional media organizations, contributing to informed governance, and 50 Human Rights Defenders (HRDs), including women HRDs and members of the Young Leaders’ Platform (YLP), an online network facilitating engagement among activists. The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), an autonomous body, also plays a critical role in upholding FoE and human rights.

Direct Beneficiary:  8103 People (50.04% women and 49.96% men)

Project Budget: EUR 1,052,631.70

Project Timeline: 1st February 2025 – 31 January 2028

Align with SDGs: SDG 5, SDG 10 and SDG 16.

Development Partner: European Union (EU), Plan International Netherland, Plan International Bangladesh (PIB)