The United Nation High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Trk has warmly welcomed the announcement of Bangladesh's accession to the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance. Chief Adviser Professor Dr Muhammad Yunus signed the Instrument of Accession to the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearances on Thursday. "The issue of enforced disappearances has a long and painful history in Bangladesh, on which the UN Human Rights Office and UN human rights mechanisms have advocated robustly," said spokesperson for the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Ravina Shamdasani in a statement today. The International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance was adopted in New York on 20 December in 2006. Shamdasani said the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights also welcomed the Bangladesh government's interim government as it formed a five-member national commission of inquiry to de termine the whereabouts of individuals forcibly disappeared allegedly by law enforcement agencies. "We stand ready to support the Commission in its work, which should be in close consultation with victims and their families and in line with international human rights standards, including the guiding principles for the search for disappeared persons," she said in the statement. Shamdasani said The UN Human Rights Office looks forward to supporting the Interim Government and people of Bangladesh at this pivotal moment to revitalise democracy, seek accountability and reconciliation, and advance human rights for all the people in Bangladesh. The spokesperson also said Volker Trk has received an official invitation from the Chief Advise r, Muhammad Yunus, to conduct an impartial and independent fact-finding mission into human rights violations committed from 1 July to 15 August. She said the Office will deploy a fact-finding team to Bangladesh in the coming weeks, with a view to reporting on violati ons and abuses perpetrated during the protests, analysing root causes and, and making recommendations to advance justice and accountability and for longer-term reforms. The team received commitments from the Interim Government and security forces for full cooperation in this work. Source: Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha
