Human Rights Violations and Associated Factors of the Hijras in Bangladesh- A Cross sectional study

Abstract Background Hijras in Bangladesh face considerable discrimination, stigma, and violence despite the 2013 legislation to preserve the rights of their right. There is a dearth of published literature describing the extent of human right 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 Civil and Political Right) assessed were categorized as binary. Associations between sociodemographic characteristics and the six human right 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 observed in 73.3%, 59.3%, 58.5%, 46.4%, 42.7%, 34.4% of the participants, respectively. Economic rights violations was 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 decreased the odds of economic and political right 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.