Since the first Commission was established by ordinance during the period of the caretaker government in
2008, efforts have been made to secure an adequate budget, accessible premises and an effective
secretariat. However, a number of challenges remain. The funding that has been made available from the
state budget to date is far from adequate and will need to be increased substantially if we are to become an
effective institution. Similarly, the staff currently allocated to the Commission fall short by a substantial
margin in numbers and capacity for what is required to fulfil its role, including reaching out to all
administered divisions of Bangladesh. JAMAKON, thus, will put its efforts into establishing divisional
offices.
Key Strategies:
Investigate and monitor cases and situations of human rights violations;
Cooperate and coordinate with state agencies, civil society, regional and international bodies for
better promotion and protection of human rights;
Add value to what is already being done by stakeholders;
Support and protect human rights defenders;
Focus on systemic change for better promotion and protection of human rights;
Enhance the accessibility, effectiveness and organizational development of JAMAKON;
Foster transboundary cooperation amongst NHRIs from the region.
Section 4. Pressing Human Rights Issues
JAMAKON’s mandate is broad – it has to act across the full range of human rights set out in the
Constitution and other international human rights instruments. These include civil and political rights as
well as economic, social and cultural rights. In reality, as it is difficult to address all human rights issues
at once, JAMAKON will need to prioritize.
The Commission identified the most pressing human rights issues in Bangladesh in its first strategic plan
for 2010-2015. At the end of the first strategic plan, the JAMAKON consulted with different stakeholders
and identified the following pressing human rights issues:
Pressing Human Rights Issues with Priority Areas for 2016-2020:
1. Violence by State Mechanism, particularly Enforced Disappearances, Torture including Custodial
Torture, Extra-judicial Killings and Culture of Impunity;
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