WUNRN
Bangladesh Government Places UN Special Rapporteur for
Trafficking Under Equivalent of House Arrest
Trafficking Representative Not Allowed to Fulfill
Responsibilities, Travel
Washington, D.C. - Sigma Huda - United Nations Special Rapporteur
on
trafficking in persons , especially in women and children - has been
told
by the Government of Bangladesh that she is not permitted to travel
abroad
on the grounds of being a "security risk for Bangladesh as she may
give
statements detrimental to this Government."
"The
detention of Ms. Huda within Bangladesh is a denial by the Government
of
Bangladesh of her inalienable right to freedom of movement and a
direct
attack on both the Principles and the institution of the United
Nations
Organization," commented In stitute on Religion and Public Policy
President
Joseph K. Grieboski. "Denying Ms. Huda the right to travel
undermines her
capacity to fulfill her duties as Special Rapporteur and
violates her
immunity under the United Nations Convention
on Privileges
and Immunities, Article 22, Section 6."
Following the 60th session of the
UN Commission on Human Rights, ending
April 23, 2004, Ms. Huda was appointed
as Special Rapporteur on Trafficking
in Persons, Especially Women and
Children. In the discharge of her mandate,
the Special Rapporteur: a) Takes
action on violations committed against
trafficked persons and on situations
in which there has been a failure to
protect their human rights; b)
Undertakes country visits in order to study
the situation in situ and
formulate recommendations to prevent and or
combat trafficking and protect
the human rights of its victims in specific
countries and/or regions; c)
Submits annual reports on the activities of
the mandate.
Despite
having a High Court order permitting her to attend the United
Nations in New
York at the Permanent Forum for Indigenous People and the
Human Rights
Council Session, her official mission visit to Belarus and her
attendance at
a conference in Lund, Sweden, she was denied exit from
Bangladesh by airport
authorities under questionable pretenses. On
her
fourth attempt to depart the country, she was informed of an order by
the
Chief Justice restraining her for an unlimited period from leaving
the
country as she is a "security risk." She appeared before
the Chief Justice
requesting permission to go abroad to complete her work but
was ultimately denied."
"Sigma Huda represents the pinnacle of global
public service, advocating on
behalf of the voiceless and the exploited,"
continued Mr. Grieboski. "Her
illegal and unjust treatment at the hands of
the Bangladesh Caretaker
Government is a crime against her fundamental
rights, a crime against her
constitutional rights, and a crime against all
those who fight for the
victimized and exploited women and children around
the world."
The Institute on Religion and Public Policy calls on United
Nations
Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, President George W. Bush, and all
European
leaders - especially those gathering in Heiligendamm, Germany, for
the G8
meeting - to press the caretaker government of Bangladesh to permit
Ms.
Huda to carry out her duties as responsibilities as United Nations
Special
Rapporteur on trafficking in persons, especially in women and
children.
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