UN Human Rights CouncilBangladesh’s human rights record review on Monday

Bangladesh’s human rights record will be examined by the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) for the fourth time on Monday (November 13), in a meeting in Geneva.

Bangladesh is one of 14 States to be reviewed by the UNHRC’s Universal Periodic Review (UPR) Working Group during its upcoming session from 6 to 17 November 2023, UNHRC said in a press release on Wednesday.

Anisul Huq, Minister of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs of the government will leadthe delegation of Bangladesh in the meeting.

Representatives from Cuba, Pakistan and Romania will serve as rapporteurs.

On Wednesday (15 November 2023), the UPR Working Group will adopt the recommendations made toBangladesh.

The State under review may wish to express its positions on recommendations posed to it during its review. Bangladesh’s first, second and third UPR reviews took placein February 2009, April 2013, and May 2018, respectively.

The UPR Working Group comprises the 47 Member States of the Human Rights Council.

However, each of the 193 UN Member States can participate in a country review.

The reviews will be based on three documents: national report by the government under review; information contained in the reports of independent human rights experts and groups; and information provided by other stakeholders including national human rights institutions, regional organizations, and civil society groups.

The UPR is a peer review of the human rights records of all 193 UN Member States. Since its first meeting was held in April 2008, all 193 UN Member States have been reviewed thrice.

During the fourth UPR cycle, States are again expected to spell out steps they have taken to implement recommendations posed during their previous reviews which they committed tofollow up on and highlight recent human rights developments in the country.