Mechanism to Implement Human Rights in Bangladesh

Abstract

The main objective of this term paper is to identify mechanisms and processes for the enforcement of the human rights treaties ratified by Bangladesh. Enforcement of human rights treaties requires a range of compliance mechanisms and strategies at the international and national level. National compliance processes and mechanisms for enforcement of human rights treaty obligations require coordinated action by all three organs of the state. While Bangladesh has ratified or acceded to most universal human rights treaties, it has not achieved full compliance with them. Bangladesh should adopt necessary legislative, policy, administrative and institutional measures to fully comply with the obligations it has assumed under these treaties. The article examines the body of jurisprudence on interpretation on human rights treaties developed by the judiciary in Bangladesh. It concludes that a more liberal and robust approach by the judiciary is needed to ensure greater compliance with human rights norms in Bangladesh. This article surveys legislative measures adopted by Bangladesh to comply with human rights treaty obligations and role of judiciary and national institutions of human rights to enforce the human rights treaties ratified by it. Regional human rights protection mechanisms constitute important pillars of the international system for the promotion and protection of human rights. At the current state five regional human rights mechanisms can be distinguished varying significantly from a very advanced human rights protection system to an emerging one.