Transcript Slide 1

Role of National Human Rights Commission
in
Protection and Promotion of Human Rights in Bangladesh
12th Human Rights Summer School (HRSS)
Venue: PHRDC, Koitta, Manikganj
Date: 19-30 December 2011
Sayeed Ahmad
Expert, Public Information and Training
National Human Rights Commission Capacity Development project
UNDP, Bangladesh
Email: [email protected]
National Human Rights Commission (NHRC)
Bangladesh
• National
Human Rights Commission Act, 2009 was
enacted on 14 July 2009
• The Commission was reconstituted with the
appointment of the Chairman, one Full Time Member
and five Honorary Members on 23 June 2010
•Prior to that, NHRC started functioning since
December, 2008 under the Ordinance of 2007
Status of the NHRC
• Statutory Independent Body (sec 3).
• The Commission shall have perpetual succession and
the power to acquire, hold, manage, dispose of property
and shall by the said name sue or be sued (Person
before Law).
• The Commission shall have the power like as the Civil
Court (as of the Code of Civil Procedure 1908) for the
purposes of investigations and inquiries (sec 16).
• To inquire, suo-moto or on a petition presented to it by a person
affected or any person on his behalf, into complaint of violation
of human rights or abetment thereof, by a person /state or
government agency/public servant.
• To visit any jail or any other places where persons are
detained or lodged for the purpose of correction, custody,
treatment, or such other welfare, and to make recommendation
to the government thereon for the development of those places
and conditions.
• To review the safeguards of human rights provided by the
Constitution or any other law for the time being in force and to
make recommendation to the government for their effective
implementation.
• To research or study treaties and other international
instruments on human rights and to make recommendation to
the government for their effective implementation.
• To examine the draft bills and proposals for new legislation for
verifying their conformity with international human rights
standards and to make recommendations for amendment to the
appropriate authority for ensuring their uniformity with the
international human rights instruments.
• To give advice to the Government for ratifying or signing the
international human rights instruments and to ensure their
implementation.
• To research into human rights and to take part in their execution in
educational and professional institutions;
• To publicize human rights literacy among various sections of
society and to promote awareness of the safeguards available for the
protection of those through publications and other available means;
• To encourage and coordinate the efforts of Non-Governmental
Organizations and institutions working in the field of human rights;
• To enquire and investigate into complaint related to the violation or
probability of violation of human rights and resolve the issue through
mediation and consensus.
• To advise and assist the Government by providing necessary legal
and administrative directions for protection and development of human
rights.
• To make recommendation to the Government so that the measures
taken through the laws of the land in force and administrative
programs are of international standard ensuring human rights;
• To assist and advice the organizations, institutions and generally the
civil society for effective application of human rights;
• To arrange research, seminar, symposium, workshop and related
activities for increasing public awareness and to publish and
disseminate the research results.
• To provide training to the members of the Law enforcing agencies
regarding protection of human rights;
• To provide legal assistance to the aggrieved person or any other
person on behalf of the aggrieved person to lodge a complain before the
Human Rights Commission;
• Conducted a baseline study on the Human Rights situation of
the country
• Developed and adopted 5 years Strategic plan with broad
consultation
• Initiated countrywide campaign ‘Working Together with key
stakeholders’.
• Initiated capacity building activities for human rights workers,
journalists.
• Produced awareness raising materials
• Increased number of complaint management: 317 complaints in
2011 compared to 205 in 2010 and 72 in 2009
• Successfully dealt with complaints: Freedom fighter Ila Rani,
Kader, Limon
• Provided opinion on draft laws like Trafficking Act, Prison Act.
Also gave input on Constitutional amendment and vowed support
to the war crime trial.
• In response to the visits in Hospitals and raising the concern
about corruption, ACC is looking into.
• In response to the recommendation of NHRC, monthly
allocation per child has been increased from Tk 1150 to Tk 1900 at
the orphanages.
• The Prime Minister has ordered to create the position of 64
cooks at the orphanages of each district in response to the
recommendation of the NHRC.
• ‘B’ status given by the International Coordination
Committee (global appex body for the NHRIs)
• Associate membership given by the Asia Pacific Forum
(APF)- the regional platform for the NHRIs.
• Publication and dissemination of baseline survey findings
• Massive Public awareness activities
• Capacity building activities for the Journalist, Law
Enforcing agency, Human Rights Activists and students
• Introducing complaint management software, online
complaint filling system
• Facilitate UPR follow up and next round reporting
Issue based research and publication.
Thanks for your hearing
AND
Look forward to discussion