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Amanullah ASM, Abir T, Husain T, Lim D, Osuagwu UL, Ahmed G, Ahmed S, Nur -A Yazdani DM, Agho KE. Human rights violations and associated factors of the Hijras in Bangladesh—A cross-sectional study. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0269375. [PMID: 35797363 PMCID: PMC9262195 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0269375] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2021] [Accepted: 05/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Background
Hijras in Bangladesh face considerable discrimination, stigma, and violence despite the 2013 legislation that recognized Hijras as a third gender. There is a dearth of published literature describing the extent of human rights violations among this population and their associated factors.
Methods
A questionnaire was administered to 346 study participants aged 15 years and older, living in five urban cities of Bangladesh who self-identified as Hijra, in 2019. The six human rights violation indicators (Economic, Employment, Health, Education, Social and Civic and Political Right) assessed were categorized as binary. Associations between sociodemographic characteristics and the six human rights violations were tested using univariate and multivariate logistic regression.
Results
Human right violations including economic, educational, political, employment, health and social/civil right violations were reported in 73.3%, 59.3%, 58.5%, 46.4%, 42.7%, and 34.4% of the participants, respectively. Economic rights violations were associated with bisexuality (Adjusted odds ratios [AOR] 3.60, 95%CI: 1.57, 8.26) and not living with family (AOR 2.71, 95%CI: 1.21, 6.09), while Hijras who earned more than 10,000 Bangladesh Taka experienced higher odds of educational (AOR 2.77, 95%CI: 1.06, 7.19) and political rights violations (AOR 4.30, 95%CI: 1.06, 7.44). Living in Dhaka city was associated with a reduced odds for economic and political rights violation while experiencing violations of one human right could lead to violation of another in the Hijra community.
Conclusion
Human rights violations were common in Bangladesh Hijras, particularly the Bisexual Hijras. Media and educational awareness campaigns are needed to address the underlying roots of a violation. Programs focused on the families, young people and high-income earners of this community are needed in Bangladesh.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Tanvir Abir
- Department of Business Administration, Daffodil International University, Daffodil Smart City, Ashulia, Dhaka, Bangladesh
- * E-mail:
| | - Taha Husain
- Department of Gender and Development Studies, Begum Rokeya University, Rangpur, Bangladesh
| | - David Lim
- Health Services Management, School of Health Sciences, Western Sydney University, Sydney, Australia
| | - Uchechukwu L. Osuagwu
- Translational Health Research Institute (THRI), School of Medicine, Western Sydney University, Campbelltown, NSW, Australia
| | - Giasuddin Ahmed
- Dhaka Mass Rapid Transit Development Project (MRT Line- 1), Knowledge Management Consultants (KMC) Ltd, Banani, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Saleh Ahmed
- Bandhu Social Welfare Society, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | | | - Kingsley E. Agho
- School of Health Sciences, Western Sydney University, Sydney, Australia
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