The Advocacy Programme is a major programme of Unnayan Uddog. Under it the organization advocates for birth registration and against child trafficking, dowry, early marriage, child labour and gender discrimination, and campaigns on rights, health and sanitation and the use of safe water. It lobbies and networks among local community based people's organizations and promotes good governance at local and national level.
Salish Kendra
Unnayan Uddog runs two Salish Kendras in its project area. The majority of people cannot go to court for justice because it is expensive and time consuming. Salish, or mediation, is an indigenous method of dispute resolution prevailing in rural Bangladesh. Through mutual empathy and an understanding of each other's situation, the choices available for an acceptable settlement are maximised for both disputing parties, and consensus emerges as a natural participatory negotiation under the supervision of the mediators.
Rehabilitation of Persons with Disability
Unnayan Uddog has been involved in disability rehabilitation through a community approach since 1997. The objectives of the programme are:
- To determine the prevalence of disabilities, assess socio-economic status and identify the basic needs of persons with disabilities
- To raise awareness among community people for the prevention of disability and build positive attitudes
- To identify local resources and opportunities for medical, educational and economic rehabilitation
- To advocate and motivate stakeholders in both government and non-government sectors to ensure access to resources and development programmes
- To ensure education for loco-motor and other disabled students in the community
- To ensure accessibility for all types of persons with disabilities to public institutions and service centres
- To ensure preventive and curative services, and economic rehabilitation
- To build the capacity of local grassroots NGOs, CBOs and community institutions in the field of disability
Children and Development
Unnayan Uddog believes that "a society or a company which relies on child labour is eating its seed corn". From this point of view it puts emphasis on children, especially working children, at all levels — providing basic education, skills development training and micro-credit support so that they can undertake economic activities after completing their education.