Anti-terror steps should not restrict freedom: UN
The UN Human Rights Committee has urged Bangladesh to make sure that counterterrorism measures were not used to restrict freedom of expression and opinion of journalists and human rights defenders.
The committee in its concluding observations on the civil and political rights record said the State party should ensure that its counter-terrorism legislation was in full conformity with the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.
It advocated that the death penalty should not be imposed for offences, such as the financing of terrorism, which do not constitute the “most serious crimes” within the meaning of article 6 (2) of the Covenant.
The UNB obtained a copy of the findings, officially termed concluding observations, from Geneva.
The committee expressed concern that the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) may not have a broad enough mandate to investigate all alleged human rights violations, including those involving law enforcers.
It also said the NHRC lacked sufficient financial and human resources to fulfill its mandate.
“The State party should broaden the mandate of the NHRC and allow it to investigate all alleged human rights violations,” the document reads.
It should also provide the NHRC with sufficient financial and human resources to allow it to impartially and independently fulfill its mandate.
On early marriage, the UN committee said the State party should amend the Child Marriage Restraint Act to maintain the legal minimum age of marriage for girls at 18 years, in accordance with international norms, without any exceptions.
It recommended that Bangladesh should adopt domestic legislation enabling the implementation of all rights under the Covenant.
The committee called upon the State party to raise awareness about the rights in the Covenant and domestic law giving effect to these rights among judges, lawyers and prosecutors to ensure that rights guaranteed in the Covenant were upheld by courts.
It welcomed the following legislative and institutional measures taken by the State party since the entry into force of the Covenant in 2000.
These are adoption of the Domestic Violence Prevention and Protection Act, 2010, the National Women Development Policy 2011, especially the framework for efforts to promote women's participation in decision-making positions, the Prevention and Suppression of Human Trafficking Act, 2012, the Persons with Disabilities Rights and Protection Act, 2013 and the Torture and Custodial Death Prevention Act, 2013.
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