Bangladesh

With the support from UNDP`s National Human Rights Commission Capacity Development Project, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) of Bangladesh observed the International Human Rights Day 2010 on Friday, 10 December to further its vision for a human rights culture throughout Bangladesh.

The theme for the day this year was---"Speak up - Stop Discrimination".

To mark the day, the NHRC organised a discussion meeting and a colourful rally in Dhaka. Speaker Mr. Abdul Hamid Advocate was present as chief guest at the discussion meeting while UNDP Bangladesh Resident Representative a.i. Mr Stefan Priesner as special guest. Paying tribute to the Universal Declaration on Human Rights (UDHR), Mr Priesner termed the Declaration as the most influential document in the last century and said that principle of non-discrimination is the basis of human rights.

Chairman of Law Commission Prof. Dr. Md. Shah Alam presented the key note paper titled "Human Rights, Role of NHRC" with NHRC Chairman Prof. Dr. Mizanur Rahman was in the chair. Members of the civil society and rights activists were also present at the discussion and gave their opinion on a variety of topics related to the theme of the day "Speak up - Stop Discrimination". Earlier, the NHRC conducted a city wide awareness programme with the law students from various universities in Dhaka. They distributed campaign materials such as bookmarks and leaflets among the mass people in the city.