EU wants Dhaka to ratify UN conventions on human rights

The European Union has encouraged Dhaka to ratify a series of UN conventions or protocols relating to human rights, stressing the need for ensuring ‘freedom of association and freedom of expression.’

Senior Correspondentbdnews24.com
Published : 21 Dec 2016, 03:06 PM
Updated : 21 Dec 2016, 03:06 PM

The EU has expressed concerns over, what it called, ‘shrinking space for civil society’ and the ‘extrajudicial killings and enforced disappearances’ in Bangladesh.

In a meeting in Brussels, the 28-countries bloc also encouraged Bangladesh to form an “independent, impartial, non-partisan and highly-qualified” Election Commission to hold the next general elections in a fully participatory way.

The EU also drew attention to the June 2016 conclusions of the International Labour Conference which include a “special paragraph" on Bangladesh on particular concerns regarding the implementation of the Freedom of Association Convention.

“This constitutes a very serious warning that Bangladesh needs to urgently improve respect for this fundamental right.”

The two sides discussed a series of issues in their biennial meeting of the sub-group on ‘good governance and human rights’ on Dec 20 at the EU headquarters in Brussels.

Head of Division Regional Affairs, India, Bangladesh, Nepal, and Bhutan in the European External Action Service (EEAS), Veronica Cody, led the EU delegation in the meeting under the framework of the EU-Bangladesh Cooperation Agreement (CA).

Secretary for Legislative and Parliamentary Affairs Division of the Ministry of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Mohammad Shahidul Haque led the Bangladesh side.

Both sides consider human rights to be a “cornerstone” of their bilateral relations, as recognised by the Cooperation Agreement, according to a statement issued by the EU.

“There was a full and frank exchange in a constructive spirit on a number of matters of common interest”.

These included: the rule of law and law enforcement, human rights cooperation in the UN, the rights of minorities, freedom of expression and of the media and freedom of assembly.

The question of death penalty, situation of the Rohingya, the Chittagong Hill Tracts Peace Accord, women’s and children's rights and the rights of people living with disabilities, fundamental labour rights, trade unions' registration and fair labour practices were also discussed.

The EU raised the situation of minorities, child labour and domestic violence in Bangladesh.

On ratifying some UN conventions, the EU encouraged Bangladesh to issue a “standing invitation” to UN Special Procedure mandate holders, who are independent experts, to visit Bangladesh and ratify series of conventions.

Those include the International Convention for the Protection of all Persons from Enforced Disappearance and optional protocols to the Conventions on Torture, Rights of the Child, and Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

Protocol to the Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination against Women, optional protocol to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, and Civil and Political Rights, and the Second Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights are also need to be ratified.

The Principal Advisor for gender issues and UNSCR 1325, Mara Marinaki, offered the EU's support to Bangladesh on developing its Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security.

This offer was welcomed by Bangladesh, according to the statement.

The EU recognised the “long-standing solidarity of Bangladesh with those fleeing violence in Myanmar and urged Bangladesh not to deport them or turn them back, but to provide assistance and protection until the situation stabilises and their safe return can be ensured, thus contributing to the stability of the region.”

The EU noted the progress made so far under the Sustainability Compact, but urged that more needed to be done.

But they urged Bangladesh to address as a matter of urgency acts of violence and harassment against trade unionists and trade union leaders, and guarantee investigation of these acts.

The EU also called on Bangladesh to ensure that trade union registration processes are carried out in a “transparent and expeditious” manner and that the labour law, the implementing regulation and the draft law on Export Processing Zones takes fully into account the ILO convention on freedom of association.

These issues will be further discussed at the EU-Bangladesh Joint Commission, to be held in Brussels in the first half of 2017.

The EU consulted with civil society and held meetings with NGOs ahead of the dialogue in Brussels.