Bangladesh tabled ‘voluntary pledges and commitments’ in support for its candidacy for membership for the period 2019-2021 on 14 June 2018. The document presents Bangladesh’s international and national level commitments and pledges for its membership term.
At domestic level, Bangladesh pledged to, inter alia: Consider acceding to the human rights conventions to which it is not yet a Party; Improve its human rights situation through further cooperation with OHCHR and the Special Procedures; Continue to strengthen and empower its watchdog bodies, including its NHRI and Anti- Corruption Commission; Ensure effective parliamentary oversight; Preserve the independence of the judiciary and the free press; Continue to implement a development agenda with a focus on the most vulnerable groups, including women, children, and persons with disabilities; and end violence and discrimination against these groups, and continue to promote and protect the rights of religious and ethnic minorities.
At the international level, Bangladesh made commitments to: strengthen its engagement and cooperation with other members of the Council; continue to support the work of OHCHR and all other UN agencies, programmes, and funds that facilitate the promotion of human rights; promote the realisation of the right to development; continue to combat climate change; continue to promote a culture of peace, the rights of migrant workers and refugees; and collective action to prevent crimes against humanity; and continue to combat racism, xenophobia and Islamophobia.
An analysis of steps taken by Bangladesh in fulfilment of its international pledges shows that Bangladesh has not recently made voluntary financial contributions to the OHCHR, its NHRI has been accredited with B status by the GANHRI.
Bangladesh hosts the following UN specialised agencies: Food and Agriculture Organisation, International Labour Organisation (ILO), UN Women, UNAIDS, UN Refugee Agency, UNICEF, UNDP, World Food Programme, and others. Bangladesh has joined consensus or voted in favour of all resolutions on the right to development; climate change; the rights of migrant workers and refugees and racism, xenophobia and Islamophobia.
Cooperation with international human rights system
Most overdue report
Fulfilment of past voluntary pledges & commitments