[See Press Coverage Below]

The purpose of the event was to have an open dialogue with stakeholders, so that the role of the UN Special Procedures can be understood better in how they could play an important function in recording and in turn addressing serious human rights violations.

The discussion was titled  “Bangladesh’s Engagement with the UN Special Procedures” on 15 July 2014 from 10.30 am to 01.00 pm at CIRDAP Auditorium, Topkhana Road, Dhaka.

UN Special Procedures Mechanism is a key human rights mechanism which ASK and other organisations in Bangladesh have been working with various Special Procedures. Drawing from the experience, ASK believes that the Country’s engagement with such procedures can be improved through consultations and dialogues between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA), National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), other human rights organisations and those who take time to use this mechanism.

ASK Invited the Director-General UN and Human Rights, Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA), Ms. Saida Muna Tasneem and Professor Mizanur Rahman, Chairperson of the National Human Rights Commission to elaborate on their roles and views.

The reports of UN Special Rapporteurs are particularly useful in terms of highlighting the roles and responsibilities of the State. Information is collected on a particular thematic area of violations and through the lens of the principle of due diligence, state action in preventing particular violations from occurring, protecting and providing remedies to the victims  who have been subject to violence.

Sayeed Ahmed, Steering Committee Member of the Human Rights Forum Bangladesh set the scene of the Panel Discussion by presenting a few facts about an important mechanism for human rights violations advocacy in the Special Procedures  – Visits from the Independant experts, UN Special Rapporteurs.

Click on Arrows Below to Navigate through the slides.

Dina M Siddiqui, Visiting Professor, BRAC University; highlighted the  Special Rapporteurs Report on Violence Against Women in Bangladesh(Click on Highlighted Text).

The Finding’s of the Special Rapporteurs Visit to Bangladesh in May 2013 was launched in April 2014. This report contains the findings of the Special Rapporteur on violence against women, its causes and consequences, following her visit to Bangladesh from 20 to 29 May 2013. It examines the situation of violence against women in the country, taking into account its causes and consequences, and implications for the effective exercise and enjoyment of human rights by women. It also discusses the State’s responses, through the lens of the principle of due diligence, to prevent such violence, protect and provide remedies to women who have been subjected to violence, and prosecute and punish the perpetrators.

Dina Siddiqi mentioned the importance of the Rapporteurs visits in to the country because it gave an all round, accurate view of the violations which were occurring first hand from the victims and grass roots activists or in the locations. She shared her view that the UN platforms were only limited to those who had access.  She also added how the collection of cases and reporting was essential to proper monitoring of violations and how they were addressed.

Sultana Kamal, Executive Director of ASK, convened the Panel discussion. On Violence Against Women Rapporteur’s report, she spoke about why women are facing such high numbers of violations in Bangladesh despite the advancement and empowerment of women in society. Even though, women are secure about their rights now, it is the men who have been left behind in recognising the concept of women’s rights and equality.

With regards to the Rapporteur visits, she emphasised the importance of reporting as the Government were in denial of many human rights violations, they seemed to be in a ”mode of denial”. This process is needed to improve transparency and address impunity.

The Term ”Extrajudicial Killings” Does not Exist in Bangladesh

Saida Muna Tasneem conveyed how the Government were ”Knocking on the Doors” to the Special Rapporteurs for Sanitary and Poverty. She also stated sharply, the government was not in denial.

Interestingly she mentioned how it was difficult to report on violations because terms such as ”Extrajudicial Killings” did not exist.

In response to reporting and monitoring, Saida expressed how the Media were already reporting on violations.

Press Coverage of Event

Israel’s Aggression in Gaza

Some countries maintain double standards

NHRC chief tells ASK discussion

Staff Correspondent

National Human Rights Commission Chairman Prof Mizanur Rahman yesterday accused some countries of maintaining a double standard over Israel’s assault in Gaza.
These countries are supporting Israel even if it is breaking all international laws and norms, while they will talk about the internal affairs of Bangladesh, he said.
“We have to understand the politics behind their defence of human rights,” Rahman told a discussion, “Bangladesh’s Engagement with UN Special Procedures”, in the capital’s Cirdap auditorium.
Since the beginning of the air strikes, more than 192 Palestinians, mostly civilians, have been killed and several hundreds injured and displaced.
Sultana Kamal, executive director of Ain o Salish Kendra, which organised the discussion, lamented that even a civilised world was unable to prevent Israel from committing such gross violations of human rights in Gaza.
About the Special Procedures system, which is a central element of the UN human rights machinery, Prof Rahman said Bangladesh should let in UN’s special rapporteurs, who visit different countries and report on human rights issues there.
Before the discussion, Sayeed Ahmed of the Human Rights Forum said there were only two visits of special rapporteurs in the last 10 years while nine requests of visits were awaiting response.
Sadia Muna Tasneem, director general (UN and Human Rights) of the foreign ministry, however, said the government was never in denial, and it would try to let in one rapporteur every year.
Dina M Siddiqi, professor of Brac University, and Ranjan Karmakar, executive director of Steps Towards Development (STD), also spoke.
Meanwhile, in Chittagong, cultural activists, journalists, and general people formed a human chain in front of Chittagong Press Club under the banner Sacheton Nagorik Samaj, calling the killings by Israel genocide.