4.4 Human Rights Research and Policy Development While preparing its Strategic Plan, JAMAKON found that a large number of laws and policies needed to be amended to make sure that they were in line with the national and international Human Rights principles and standards. In addition, carrying out the mandate of JAMAKON on promotion and protection of Human Rights throughout the country requires extensive research. To address this issue, Human Rights Research and Policy Development was targeted as one of the focal area of JAMAKON. Follow-up on the Implementation of 2nd Cycle Universal Periodic Review (UPR) of Bangladesh: JAMAKON organized and facilitated a daylong ‘Workshop on the Follow-up of the Implementation of 2nd Cycle Universal Periodic Review (UPR) of Bangladesh’ held on 24 June 2014. The First session of the workshop was held on “Economic, Social and Cultural Rights with a focus on access to education for slum dwellers’ children and Civil and Political Rights: Bangladesh scenario”. Main points of discussion and recommendations were as follows: • • • • The achievements were discussed in regards to legal reform of the Children Act, the Labour Act, and Education Policy. Adoption of National Social Security Policy. Systematic monitoring of the implementation of UPR at the country level. Adoption of an action plan by JAMAKON for the follow-up of implementation of UPR during 2nd Cycle. • Capacity building of the actorstraining of judiciary e.g. The Domestic Violence Act, 2010. • Incorporating the economic, social and cultural rights in chapter III of the Constitution of Bangladesh as fundamental rights thus making those justiciable rights. Ensuring right to education for all as well as human rights education. • Ensuring full implementation of the CHT Peace Accord. • Anti-corruption. • An active civil society is also very important.  The JAMAKON should play an independent role in the promotion and protection of human rights. And most importantly, JAMAKON needs to decide its priorities and stick to them.  Law is important; however policy and practice are also important.  State accountability mechanism should be in place.  Strong political commitment is needed. On the same occasion, there was a Working Group Session on ‘Business and Human Rights-compliance of safety measures in RMG sectors’. Main points of discussion and recommendations made: • • • • • Non-compliance with existing laws including the Labour Act, 2006. The existing Labour Act, 2006 (section: 5,6,7 &11) needs to be revisited. Ensuring occupational health, safety and security. Ensuring factory inspection as well as imparting training to the factory inspectors. Compliance with safety measures. National Human Rights Commission (JAMAKON) Annual Report 2014 37