e_Paper, Sunday, July 23, 2017

More documents

Recommendations

Info

DT 12 Editorial SUNDAY, JULY 23, 2017 TODAY The road to peace IPHRC has been charged to play a more pro-active role in promoting human rights PAGE 13 BIGSTOCK Who is selling out, exactly? BBC is a pinko propaganda machine, they hollered. And the casting decision was yet another PC sell-out move, they raged on PAGE 14 Time for a new port Chittagong port has more on its plate than it can handle right now. And it is no surprise that vessel congestion has been choking the port, considering that 90% of the country’s imports and exports go through there. The solution lies in developing a new port on a priority basis, as near-complete dependence on Chittagong is clearly not sustainable. Furthermore, Chittagong port’s capacity also needs to be upgraded -- the infrastructure at the port right now is woefully inadequate, and no jetty has been constructed in the last nine years in spite of significant increases in cargo volume. Chittagong port’s capacity also needs to be upgraded A failure to protect Bangladesh has been walking a tightrope for too long, as the state is, dangerously close to giving legitimate space to Islamist fanatics Be heard Write to Dhaka Tribune FR Tower, 8/C Panthapath, Shukrabad, Dhaka-1207 Send us your Op-Ed articles: opinion.trib@gmail.com www.dhakatribune.com Join our Facebook community: https://www.facebook.com/ DhakaTribune. The views expressed in opinion articles are those of the authors alone and they are not the official view of Dhaka Tribune or its publisher. PAGE 15 Sending the right message Hats off to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina for doing the right thing. It is heartening to see PM Hasina, president of the AL, take action against the Barisal lawyer who sued UNO Gazi Tarek Salman over publishing a drawing of Bangabandhu on an invitation card. We are glad to see that the rule of law, as well as common sense, has prevailed. But more importantly, this action on part of the AL sends out a much-needed message: Over-zealous actions which persecute citizens under such false pretenses will not be tolerated. The actions of Obaedullah Saju do not honour the memory of the Father of the Nation, but quite the opposite. Neither the government, the AL, nor the people will fall for such antics. The actions of Obaedullah Saju do not honour the memory of the Father of the Nation, but quite the opposite
The road to peace The OIC and its monitoring of human rights Opinion 13 DT SUNDAY, JULY 23, 2017 P O S T BREAKFAST • Muhammad Zamir The preamble of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights states: “The inherent dignity and equal and inalienable rights of all members of the human family is the foundation of freedom, justice, and peace in the world.” Upholding of human rights has gained focal attention all over the world. It is generally agreed that absence of this important factor within the paradigm of governance affects individual security, collective security, and also national security. In this context, there is also consensus that elements like sectarianism and absence of respect of socio-cultural rights respect and protection for different societies with separate value-structures. The youth is our future This has been done with the belief that this will strengthen the role of youth and also foster peace and development in all OIC member states. Details of the efforts undertaken by the IPHRC in this regard was recently enumerated by its Vice Chairperson, Dr Rashid Al Balushi, during the 44th session of the OIC Conference of Foreign Ministers (CFM) held in Abidjan Republic of Cote d’Ivoire from July 10-11. His address touched on the theme of “Youth, Peace, and Development in a World of Solidarity.” Dr Balushi also pointed out that despite resource constraints; IPHRC’s effort was being widely recognised by the international human rights community. In this context, he also informed Don’t just promote human rights, ensure them BIGSTOCK IPHRC has been charged to play a more proactive role in promoting human rights among different communities have also had an effect on the subregional and regional matrix. The prevailing situation of terrorism and violence in different parts of the world -- resulting out of fundamentalism, communalism, populism, and misinterpretation of religion -- has resulted in displacement of populations, both internally as well as across frontiers. Such an equation has particularly emerged within the parameters of parts of Africa in general and North Africa in particular, and also in several subregions within the Middle East and parts of South and Southeast Asia. Armed violence has contributed to instability, loss of lives, and tension in the context of bilateral relations. Recognition of these factors appears to have persuaded the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) member states to focus their collective attention towards the upholding of human rights. In this context, the OIC Independent Permanent Human Rights Commission (IPHRC) has been charged to play a more proactive role in not only promoting human rights but also ensuring the member states about IPHRC conducting two field visits to Palestine and Kashmir and also preparing detailed reports on the ongoing human rights situation in these sensitive areas. The IPHRC has apparently also carried out research and prepared a detailed report on the subject of “Sexual orientation and Gender identity” and also tried to review the Cairo Declaration on Human Rights in Islam against existing universal human rights instruments. Both these studies with concrete recommendations were later submitted to the 44th CFM for consideration and appropriate follow up. It would be fitting at this point to outline the manner in which the IPHRC evolved within the OIC. It is an expert body with advisory capacity that was established by the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) as one of the principal organs working independently in the area of human rights. A new avenue of peace and order The creation of IPHRC was enunciated in the New OIC Charter adopted by 11th Islamic Summit held in Dakar, Senegal, on March 13-14, 2008. The commission was formally launched with the adoption of its statute by the 38th session of the Council of Foreign Ministers held in Astana, Kazakhstan, on June 28-30, 2011. The nascent commission has since emerged as a fully functional human rights mechanism pursuing its multidimensional objectives and mandates. From its first regular session, the commission adopted a set of five guiding principles for its work. These include the principles of complementarity, introspection, prioritsation, incremental approach, and credibility. The IPHRC has also claimed that they are now offering programs of assistance to member states in a variety of areas such as advancing human rights, reviewing the corresponding domestic legislations, counseling with regard to obligations under international human rights instruments, awareness campaigns, and provision of technical assistance for capacity building, etc. One can only hope that these objectives do not suffer due to absence of political will or financial contributions. Support is key The OIC, in this significant journey, needs to fully support the IPHRC while it undertakes measures towards advancing human rights and fundamental freedoms in member states as well as the fundamental rights of Muslim minorities and communities in non-member states in conformity with the universally recognised human rights norms and standards and with the added value of Islamic principles of justice and equality. This effort aimed at promoting and strengthening human rights in member states should also include interfaith and intercultural dialogue as a tool to promote peace and harmony among various civilisations and the promotion of the true image of Islam -- as a religion of peace and understanding. This will need extending support to member states and their national institutions in the promotion and protection of human rights for all in an independent manner. It will also require reviewing the OIC’s own human rights instruments and recommending ways for their finetuning, as and where appropriate, including the option of recommending new mechanisms and covenants. Subsequent promotion of cooperative working relations with relevant bodies of the United Nations will help to strengthen regional human rights mechanisms with the support and association of accredited civil society organisations. A vast network IPHRC, with its member states spread over four continents is designed to work as a cross-regional human rights mechanism that brings together and promotes the universal character of human rights. Over the last three years, the IPHRC appears to have deliberated on a number of important issues of contemporary concern such as rights of women and children, right to development, combating Islamophobia, extremism, and intolerance. It would, however, be fitting for OIC member states to understand that the objectives for setting up the IPHRC can only be meaningfully achieved if they seriously abide by the stipulations set forth in international instruments and not just in lipservice. Conformity with these aforementioned principles will then ensure good governance particularly with regard to the millions of expatriate workers -- both female and male -- who now work in the Middle East from least developed and developing countries. It will be a challenge, but I shall try to make certain of this during my tenure as an elected member of the IPHRC for three years from February, 2018.• Muhammad Zamir, a former Ambassador and Chief Information Commissioner of the Information Commission, is an analyst specialised in foreign affairs, right to information, and good governance. He can be reached at muhammadzamir0@gmail.com.
Page 1 and 2: SECOND EDITION SUNDAY, JULY 23, 201
Page 3 and 4: News SUNDAY, Local administration h
Page 5 and 6: News 5 SUNDAY, JULY 23, 2017 ‘Dha
Page 7 and 8: News SUNDAY, 7 JULY 23, 2017 DT Wit
Page 9 and 10: News 9 SUNDAY, JULY 23, 2017 DT Who
Page 11: News 11 SUNDAY, JULY 23, 2017 DT Ne
Page 15 and 16: A failure to protect Opinion 15 Eco
Page 17 and 18: What’s on 17 SUNDAY, JULY 23, 201
Page 19 and 20: Sports 19 DT SUNDAY, JULY 23, 2017
Page 21 and 22: Sports 21 SUNDAY, JULY 23, 2017 DT
Page 23 and 24: Showtime Films coming out this Eid

e_Paper, Sunday, July 23, 2017

Create successful ePaper yourself

Delete template?

Save as template?