Chapter One Building a Human Rights Culture T he pursuit of human rights promotes the freedom, dignity and worth of every person. When human rights are made real, the poor can participate in decisions affecting their lives; the absence of such rights is a defining characteristic of human poverty. The Constitution of Bangladesh provides for the protection of human rights of all citizens. The rights to life, to liberty, to equality and nondiscrimination, and to be treated in accordance with law, are the fundamental human rights principles enumerated in the Constitution, as are a range of civil, political, social and cultural rights. In addition to these national guarantees, Bangladesh has ratified eight of nine core international human rights treaties, and has adopted several Optional Protocols (OPs) related to discrimination against women (CEDAW) and rights of the child (CRC). However, it has yet to ensure consistency with national laws and align the application of human rights protection with its international 21