Sumaiya Islam
"Violence against house workers in Saudi doesn’t get enough attention, and it’s my job to promote it."
Sumaiya Islam is a migrant rights defender whose organisation, Bangladesh Ovibashi Mohila Sramik Association (BOMSA), conducts pre-departure personal security trainings with Bangladeshi women leaving to work in the Persian Gulf. Islam also organises advocacy meetings between returned migrant women and state officials and public performances dedicated to raising awareness of migrant rights violations in the Gulf. In her personal and professional capacity, Islam uses social media and broadcast television to fight for better state protection of Bangladeshi migrant women.
Human rights defenders (HRDs) in Bangladesh endure judicial harassment, arbitrary arrest, fabricated charges, abduction, physical attacks, torture and extrajudicial killings. Human rights violations against HRDs are committed by both state and non-state actors including corporations, impunity remains one of the most serious issues of concern, particularly as fatal attacks on human rights defenders and journalsits become increasingly common.
