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Open cooperation with UN special mechanisms
Goal Four:
An NHRC that is credible, independent, objective, effective and respected for spearheading human rights
protection throughout the country.
Section 3. Key Strategies
To attain these long‐term goals, clear strategies are essential. JAMAKON’s basic approach is to develop
strong working relationships with civil society, state agencies and international human rights
organizations.
In Bangladesh, a considerable amount of human rights awareness‐raising, research and policy
development and monitoring activities is being undertaken by national and international organizations.
JAMAKON intends to add value to these efforts. JAMAKON has ample opportunities to coordinate and
collaborate with these organizations in order to monitor the human rights situation, implement education
and awareness program, and conduct research and policy advocacy.
JAMAKON hopes to be able to use NGOs as conduits f or receiving complaints, and to strengthen the
human rights monitoring which may already have been undertaken by these NGOs. The Commission’s
function of inspecting places of detention centres, for example, can open doors that have traditionally
been closed to NGOs. Similarly, when undertaking inquiries the Commission has powers to summon
witnesses and examine them on oath. These official powers go well beyond what NGOs or other civil
society actors are able to do.
We acknowledge and applaud the tireless efforts of the human rights defenders working throughout
Bangladesh to promote human rights and defend the fundamental freedoms of people and individuals. We
intend to advocate for ensuring compliance of domestic legislation with the UN Declaration on Human
Rights Defenders. JAMAKON has a mandate to protect and support human rights defenders.
We recognize that often much more progress can be made on the human rights front by focusing on
systemic change. The National Human Rights Commission Act 2009 empowers the Commission to
inquire into complaints of human rights violations from affected individuals and from those complaining
on their behalf. We are already receiving a regular flow of complaints and are committed to pursuing
these as effectively as we can. We are working to achieve large‐scale changes affecting groups of our
constituents.
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