<i>Empowering HRC</i>

Photo: A.M.Ahad / driknews

National Human Rights Commission (HRC) law was passed on July 9, 2009. But it is a matter of great regret that the government is not taking the necessary measures to make the commission effective. Only seven members have been recruited so far. The commission is now unable to investigate any case as the government has not recruited any investigation officer yet. Establishing an effective HRC was one of the main election commitments of the present government.
Though the commission has the power to investigate any case of human rights violation, it is not been given the power to file a case or take any legal step. The commission does not have the power to investigate complaints of human rights violation by the law enforcers. It only can ask for report from the government and recommend it, but the government is not obliged to obey the commission's recommendation. For legislative complications, the HRC cannot take any step in spite of having clear evidences of some human rights violation cases.
We hope the government will take urgent steps to make the HRC effective for the sake of democracy, good governance and the rule of law. An effective Human Rights Commission has no alternative.