Chapter: 6. Challenges to the NHRC and the Way Forward highlights the challenges and obstacles side by side with the success stories of the NHRC. During 2012, The NHRC succeeded in creating accelerated expectations through its large number of proactive programmes and could create a large body of human rights activists, who in future will be able to protect and defend human rights. In spite of these successes, there are some multifaceted challenges in the NHRC founding legislation, which need to be revisited in order to ensure compliance with the provisions of the 'Paris Principles' and to make the Commission truly effective and independent. The other such challenges relate to inadequate manpower, resources, logistics etc. The administrative and financial autonomy, mentioned in the NHRC Act, are not being exercised properly due to lack of proper l e ga l c o ve ra g e . T h e C o m m i s s i o n recommends that the State undertakes initiatives in ratification of human rights Instruments which the State has not yet ratified and withdrawal of reservations to CEDAW, ensuring Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, stoppage of Extrajudicial 14 K i l l i n g s , e n s u r i n g t r a n s p a r e n c y, accountability and due process of law at the International Crimes Tribunal Bangladesh (ICTB), stoppage of Border Killings and violence against vulnerable groups. The Commission is well aware that maintaining and ensuring human rights in a densely populated country like Bangladesh with diverse religions, languages and ethnic groups, is a herculean task. The Commission, with its limited resources, is stepping forward to face these challenges in collaboration with the stakeholders including policy implementing agencies. The NHRC is confident of successful performance of its responsibility through the combined efforts of NHRC and its stakeholders. The NHRC believes this report provides the Honorable President, the Government, development partners and all other stakeholders with a fair, well founded and comprehensive picture of what the Commission has achieved during 2012 and what the Commission is aspiring to achieve in the days ahead.

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