As part of Counterpart International’s pledges to the Global Democracy Coalition in advance of the second Summit for Democracy, Counterpart International hosted its first award ceremony for its Civic Champion Award. Announced in March, but awarded in person in April, Counterpart International was proud to honor Dalit and Gram Bikash Shohayak Shangstha (GBSS) as the awardees of the inaugural Civic Champion Award. Both organizations partner with Counterpart International as part of its Promoting Advocacy and Rights (PAR) project in Bangladesh. The Civic Champion Award was created to celebrate partners and leaders who make a difference and honor their sacrifice and commitment to advance civil society, human rights, and democracy. Within an environment marked by mass arrests, widespread political violence, intense surveillance, and the suppression of public discourse leading up to the 2024 parliamentary election in Bangladesh, Dalit and GBSS demonstrated resilience, flexibility, and a politically savvy approach to provide a platform for marginalized communities to participate in the election process. Counterpart International is proud to honor and celebrate their achievements over the past year.
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