‘Public-private integrated initiatives to ensure human’

GBnews 24 desk//

The establishment of human rights is not possible without taking challenges as the role of human rights activist and the government is different. So, it is important to have coordination between the rights activist and the government, say experts.

The observation came from a meeting titled “Multi-Stakeholder Engagement on UPR Outcome in Bangladesh” at a Hotel in Dhaka today.

The experts stated that state as a guardian of protecting citizen’s rights, there are lots of hope to the government to ensure freedom of expression along with other parameters of human rights.

The meeting has also been given the demand for the public-private integrated initiative to establish human rights within the country.

ARTICLE 19, a human rights organization works for a world where all people everywhere can freely express themselves and actively engage in public life without fear of discrimination, organized the event.

Universal Periodic Review (UPR) is a unique process of the UN Human Rights Council, which aims to improve the human rights situation of member states of the United Nations. Under this process, UN member states review the human rights situation of their respective countries and they get the opportunity to declare steps taken for the development of human rights after four and a half years.

However, Bangladesh has finally taken 178 of the 255 recommendations of the latest UPR forum for human rights protection.

The event was chaired by Faruq Faisel, Regional Director, South Asia of ARTICLE 19 while NGO Affairs Bureau Director General of Prime Minister’s Office, KM Abdus Salam was present as a chief guest.

Government officials, Journalists, Human Rights Activists of the country have also participated at the event.

In his speech, KM Abdus Salam said: “The declarations regarding human rights in the constitution of Bangladesh is similar to the declaration of universal human rights of the United Nations. Following this, the government is working to implement those rights.”

He further said: “The expectation from the citizens to the government is much high. So, civil society has to come up with their assistance with the government to fulfill these expectations.”

Faruq Faisal said: “The citizen organizations are not opponent of the government, they are rather associates. So, it is very much likely to work on human rights issues with the government with mutual understanding.”

“ARTICLE 19 is working to ensure the coordinated role with the governments, citizens and civil societies for ensuring the freedom of expression in Bangladesh and other places of the world,” he added.