Guidelines on ElectionCentric Human Rights Protection 1. Introduction The National Human Rights Commission is an independent statutory state institution. The National Human Rights Commission Act 2009 establishes the functions and jurisdiction of this institution. The Constitution of the People's Republic of Bangladesh and the human rights standards mentioned in the international human rights instruments which Bangladesh has ratified/ signed are under the purview of the National Human Rights Commission. The main objective of the National Human Rights Commission is to build a human rights culture in Bangladesh where equal rights, justice and dignity of all people will be protected. As a part of this, the National Human Rights Commission will protect human and civil rights as well as political tolerance and a peaceful electoral environment in the upcoming national elections of Bangladesh. It feels the need for urgent and coordinated initiatives in the pre-election, electiontime and post-election period to maintain political tolerance and peaceful electoral environment. The Commission is committed to creating awareness about the rights, responsibilities and duties of all institutions, election candidates, citizens and voters involved in the election process and to ensure the protection of human rights and dignified coexistence of ethnic, religious and other backward communities. 2. Universally accepted concepts of democracy and human rights A democratic environment is essential for the exercise and protection of human rights. That is why democracy has been recognized as the universal model for the exercise and protection of human rights worldwide. Democracy plays an effective role in protecting human dignity and fundamental rights, social justice, socio- economic development, social harmony, national unity and an environment of peaceful coexistence, so it has been recognized by the United Nations as the principle and ideal of state governance. Article 1 of the Universal Declaration of the United Nations, 1948 states the equality of all and Article 2 states the freedom and equal rights of all without discrimination. Article-21 of this declaration states that everyone has the right to participate in the governance of his country, directly or through freely elected representatives. On the other hand, in Article 1 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights of the United Nations, it is said to ensure the right of all peoples to self- determination, in the light of which they will freely determine their political status and independently manage their economic, social and cultural activities. Article 3 guarantees that both men and women of each signatory state shall enjoy equal civil and political rights. Through Article II of the Treaty each signatory state is obligated to respect and protect the civil and political rights of all citizens. 1 1 Bangladesh ra�fied ICCPR, 1966 on 06 September 2000 03