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Official Letter from the European Women's Lobby to Portugal, which will have

the European Presidency for the next six months, and will speak for the EU

at the United Nations, regarding EWL concerns for the UN Special Rapporteur

on Trafficking in Persons, Ms. Sigma Huda of Bangladesh.

 

EWL - European Women's Lobby

 

(printed on official EWL letter head)

 

The Portuguese Prime Minister

José Socrates

Rua da Imprensa   Estrela, 4

1200-888 Lisboa, Portugal

 

Brussels, 24/7/2007

 

Dear Prime Minister Socrates,

 

Re: The recent arrest of the UN Special Rapporteur on Trafficking in

Persons, Sigma Huda

 

On behalf of the European Women’s Lobby (EWL), the largest coalition of

women’s NGOs in the European Union, which represents over 4.000 member

organisations, I am writing to you to express our serious concern about the

situation of UN Special Rapporteur on Trafficking in Persons, Ms. Sigma

Huda.

 

Ms Huda is currently being held in detention in Bangladesh and is not

receiving the urgent medical treatment she needs due to heart problems and a

diabetes condition requiring insulin.

 

On 7th July 2007, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon called upon Bangladesh to

respect the full range of human rights, including the right to a fair trial

and rights relating to detention conditions during the trial of Ms. Huda. We

therefore urge you to use your authority as the holder of the European

Presidency to join the international pressure put upon Bangladesh to comply

with its international obligations towards human rights, including Ms. Sigma

Huda’s right to a fair trial and immediate medical attention while in

prison.

 

We trust that you will give this your utmost attention.

 

EWL will continue to monitor the situation.

 

Yours Sincerely,

 

Kirsti Kolthoff

 

President of the EWL

 

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