October 30, 2013

Recommendations by the Members States in the  Universal Periodic Review- 2^nd Cycle,  Bangladesh

 April 29, 2013, Geneva, Switzerland

 Accepted Recommendations

1. Sign and ratify the new Optional Protocol to CRC on a communications procedure (Slovakia)
2. Accede to the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on a communications procedure at the earliest opportunity (Maldives)
3. Consider acceding to CPED and OP-CAT (Peru)
4. Consider the possibility of ratifying CPED, the 1951 Convention relating to the Status of Refugees and its Protocol, and OP-CAT (Argentina)
5. Consider ratifying the conventions on refugees and stateless persons and passing national legislation on refugees and stateless persons (Sierra Leone)
6. Continue constructive cooperation with UN mechanisms to enhance the system of the protection of human rights in the country (Uzbekistan)
7. Improve cooperation with human rights mechanisms, including presenting outstanding reports and approving visits for special procedures (Sierra Leone)
8. Continue cooperation with treaty bodies and special procedures (Peru)
9. Consider further cooperation with the international human rights monitoring mechanisms, including treaty bodies and Special procedures of the Human Rights Council (Turkmenistan)
10. Focus on improving its reporting to treaty bodies (Slovenia 1)
11. Continue efforts to strengthen reporting capacity to the UN human rights treaty bodies (Ukraine 1)
12. Accelerate the work aimed at strengthening its capacity to report on some treaties (Zimbabwe)
13. Present the initial report on the implementation of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, as a matter of priority (Portugal)
14. Submit its initial and periodic reports to relevant human rights bodies in a timely manner (Republic of Korea)
15. Continue in the cooperation with Special Procedures and the mechanisms, and consider issuing invitations to the special Rapporteurs (State of Palestine)

 Government Response

1. The Minister said that ratification of OP-CAT was under consideration but a decision could be facilitated following Bangladesh’s submission of Period Report to the Treaty Body and assessment of its capacity to fulfill obligations under the instrument.

The Minister said that Bangladesh maintains its cooperation with the Special Procedure mechanisms   and has confirmed dates for visits by three mandate holders later this year.

Recommendations which were not accepted by the Bangladesh Government at the review (have since been accepted : Plenary session 20 September 2013)

1. Sign and ratify the Optional Protocol to the ICESCR (Portugal)
2. Accede to the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture, and to establish an effective national preventive mechanism (Maldives)
3. Ratify the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel and Inhumane Treatment or Punishment (Germany)
4. Ratify OP-CAT (Chile)
5. Ratify the OP-CAT and establish its national preventive mechanism accordingly (Czech Republic)
6. Accede to OP-CAT and the optional protocols to the treaties to which it is a Contracting Party  in order to recognize the competence of Treaty Bodies in complaints, inquiry and urgent action procedures (Costa Rica)
7. Sign the OP-CAT (Sweden)
8. Ratify the OP-CAT, the ICERD and the Optional Protocols of the ICCPR (Hungry)
9. Ratify the International Convention for Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance and the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (Tunisia)
10. Accede to the CPED and accept the competence of its monitoring body (Uruguay)
11. Ratify the 1989 ILO Convention No. 169 on indigenous and tribal peoples (Mexico)
12. Sign ILO Convention NO. 169 that aims to protect the cultural integrity of indigenous societies and enable them to control their own development (Denmark)
13. Ratify the 1951 refugee convention and its 1967 protocol, the 1954 and 1961 conventions on statelessness and OP-CAT (Austria)
14. Remove reservations to article 2 and article 16.1(c) of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (Finland)
15. Withdraw reservations to CEDAW and its optional protocol and fully implement national policies and laws on the protection of women (Austria)
16. Withdraw remaining reservations to the CEDAW and give priority to the implementation of the Domestic Violence Act (Denmark)
17. Implement the Uniform Family Code as well as withdraw its reservations against CEDAW (Sweden)
18. Adopt without delay a uniform Family Code that fully complies with the provisions of CEDAW (Germany)
19. Consider withdrawing its reservations on Articles 76 and 77 of the International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of the All Migrant Workers and Their Families (Philippines)
20. Complete the process of aligning its national legislation with the provisions of the Rome Statute (Tunisia)
21. Review its national legislation in order to ensure its full alignment with the obligations under the Rome Statute, including adoption of the provisions enabling the cooperation with the Court (Latvia)
22. Take steps to strengthen the implementation of the National Women’s Advancement Policy, including by removing its reservations to the CEDAW (Australia)
23. Issue an early invitation to the Special Rapporteur on the Freedom of Expression (Norway)
24. Agree to and facilitate an early visit by the UN Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions (United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland)

 Recommendations under consideration:

1. Issue a standing invitation for UN human rights special procedures and accept all requested visits by the mandate holders (Hungary)
2. Issue an open invitation to the Special Procedures (Guatemala)
3. Extend a standing invitation to all thematic special procedures (Montenegro)
4. Consider extending an open invitation to special procedures (Iraq)
5. Step up its cooperation with the special procedures of the Human Rights Council by responding positively to the pending visits’ requests and consider extending a standing invitation to all the special procedures mandate holders (Latvia)

Presented by

 Zakir Hossain, Chief Executive, Nagorik Uddyog  on Seminar 29 July 2013