Rupa's Story :: Courage in the Heart: Stories of Gender Justice + Legal Empowerment

RUPA'S STORY View Rupa's Photo Essay

Since becoming a Barefoot lawyer for BRAC, Rupa has been a community advocate, speaking out against dowry, acid violence, early marriage and gender inequalities in her home community of Rangpur, Bangladesh. After completing the BRAC training, Rupa is now confident in passing on knowledge about the legal system in seven different areas of law. She admits to being previously unaware that common practices like early marriage and dowry are illegal. BRAC's legal education initiatives complement our legal aid clinics, where women can receive free legal aid to protest injustices. In her community, Rupa is a key access point, performing door-to-door visits to identify abuses taking place, and connecting those involved with BRAC's free legal aid services . Rupa is paid by BRAC for her work as a barefoot lawyer. She is also part of the BRAC's Targeting the Ultra Poor program, through which she has received five goats and ten chickens through which she earns an income.

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RUPA'S STORY

Rupa became a single mother at 15. She was unable to feed or school her son, for a time she was forced to place her son in a home for children (an Atimkhana) whose parents have difficulty providing essentials.

Rupa first got involved with BRAC after being identified through BRAC's Targeting the Ultra Poor program.

Rupa teaching a Human Rights and Legal Education (HRLE) class. She attended BRAC's barefoot lawyer training and after 4 weeks began leading a HRLE class where she teaches family law, constitutional law, criminal law, inheritance law, and land law. BRAC pays her to teach these classes, through which she is able to support herself.

'When anyone faces any kind of problem they immediately inform me. Previously, they did not do this.' (Rupa) In this Picture: Rupa riding in a motor rickshaw.

'I get support from BRAC and it is enough to support my family. I also get a stipend for teaching the HRLE class. […] Previously I was not self sufficient. Before I worked as a maid-servant, but now it is not necessary to work in someone else's house. I am improving myself through the support of BRAC.' (Rupa)

Rupa attends a BRAC Citizen Action Group meeting where women report abuses that are taking place to her.

Two women who attend Rupa's Human Rights and Legal education class.

Two boys who live near Rupa, fishing with bamboo nets close to Rupa's home.

The busy streets of Rangpur, the closest small city to Rupa's community.

Two children whose mothers are in Rupa's Human Rights and Legal Education class who sit in and listen. BRAC's Human Rights and Legal Education classes have graduated over 3,543,189 women across Bangladesh.