Speakers at a workshop yesterday said the information technology can play an important role in developing human resources and alleviating poverty.

This technology can also help protect human rights through dissemination of information, they said, adding that the rural people who do not have access to information are deprived of their rights and justice as they are not aware of their rights.

D.Net, a development research network, organised the workshop on 'Information and Communication Technology and Access to Justice' at the WVA auditorium in the city.

The organisation has initiated a project titled 'Abolombon' that provides information about human rights and child rights and offers guidelines on where the rural people will seek help in case of violations of their rights.

It is going to set up Palli Tathya Kendra (rural information centre) in four districts to provide information about human rights to the rural people.

Presenting a keynote paper, Ananya Raihan, executive director of D.Net, identified several factors responsible for the lack of access to justice and explained how the information technology can play a vital role in ensuring access tojustice.

Project Coordinator Ferdousi Akhter demonstrated the website of Abolombon.

Advocate Sultana Kamal, executive director of Ain o Salish Kendrea, urged all, including the NGos, to work together to set up a common access point for the poor people.