New York:Bangladesh has urged the international community to establish a robust treaty aimed at preventing and addressing crimes against humanity, with an emphasis on providing special protection for victims and support for countries hosting survivors of such atrocities.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the call was made by Bangladesh delegate Muhammad Nawshad Zamir during his address to the Sixth Committee of the 81st United Nations General Assembly. He proposed three key provisions for the proposed treaty, including international cooperation to preserve evidence and protect witnesses in countries that receive victims.
Bangladesh stressed the need for comprehensive support for survivors, ensuring their access to justice at both national and international levels, and called for greater international solidarity in sharing the burdens borne by host countries. Highlighting Bangladesh's experience with over one million forcibly displaced Rohingyas from Myanmar, Zamir emphasized that host countries should be fully integrated into international accountability mechanisms.
He pointed out the significant humanitarian, economic, and social responsibilities that host nations bear, along with their role in preserving evidence and facilitating access to victims and witnesses. Zamir also referenced Bangladesh's 2024 uprising, citing a United Nations report that estimated the deaths of up to 1,400 people, including children, and called for investigations into potential crimes against humanity.
Bangladesh advocated for universal jurisdiction and stronger extradition mechanisms to prevent perpetrators from evading accountability by crossing national borders. The proposed convention, according to Bangladesh, should focus particularly on the prevention and justice for women and children, who are often disproportionately affected by systematic violence.
Zamir emphasized that the convention should complement the Rome Statute and safeguard the independence of the International Criminal Court, while also being a robust legal instrument capable of closing existing accountability gaps and enhancing international cooperation against impunity. He warned against a diluted convention, stating, "A convention diluted until it offends no one will protect no one."