Bring an end to crimes against humanity

Permanent Representative of Bangladesh to the UN, Ambassador Rabab Fatima, has urged the UN Security Council to bring an end to crimes against humanity and genocide.

She was addressing the Security Council’s open debate on Friday on “Upholding the United Nations Charter to maintain International Peace and Security”. 

Reiterating Bangladesh’s abiding commitment to the UN, Ambassador Fatima recalled Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman’s maiden speech at the UN in 1974 where he said, “The noble ideals enshrined in the charter of the United Nations are the very ideals for which millions of our people have made the supreme sacrifice.” 

It is from this same steadfast commitment Bangladesh continues to be a leading contributor to the UN peacekeeping, said a press release yesterday.

The humanity and courageous leadership shown by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in hosting more than a million persecuted Rohingyas -- which saved the region from potential destabilisation -- also stems from that commitment, the ambassador added.

Highlighting the new and emerging challenges such as cybercrimes, climate change, poverty and inequality, violent extremism, and displacements, she underscored the growing relevance of multilateralism and the UN in addressing those.

This was the first open debate of the council this year chaired by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Vietnam Pham Binh Minh, marking the advent of the 75th anniversary of the UN Charter.

The meeting was addressed by over 100 member states.

António Guterres, UN secretary general, and Mary Robinson, chair of the elders, briefed the council at the beginning of the debate.