UPR Intervention for Bangladesh,
16th Session April 29, 2013
As delivered by Ambassador Eileen C. Donahoe
We welcome Minister of Foreign Affairs, H.E. Ms. Dipu Moni andthe delegation and offer our condolences to the victims of the recent building collapse in Bangladesh.
We commend promotion of women’s participation in government and appreciate the National Human Rights Commission’s acknowledgement that all individuals, including LGBT individuals, should be protected from discrimination.
We appreciate the government’s willingness to address worker safety and rights, but remain concerned by the recent tragedies in factories. Concrete steps should be taken to improve worker conditions and remove barriers to fundamental labor rights.
We remain concerned by recent political violence, and reported rights violations by members of the Rapid Action Battalion. A climate of impunity in the security forces continues to enable such abuses.
We welcome the regional engagement on a solution for the Rohingya, yet are concerned that aid agencies providing assistance along the border with Burma have faced operational difficulties from authorities.
We recommend:
- Fully train and equip relevant authorities to enforce laws on occupational safety and health as well as the right to organize and bargain collectively;
- Investigate allegations of human rights violations by security force members and hold perpetrators accountable;
- Grant permission and access to aid agencies to provide humanitarian assistance to Rohingya and others in the Bangladesh-Burma border region.