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UN and caste discrimination in Bangladesh

UNIVERSAL PERIODIC REVIEW

Bangladesh was reviewed by the UPR working group at the 4th UPR session in February 2009.

> Read more about the Universal Periodic Review of Bangladesh, incl. links to reports and states' recommendations

Bangladesh is up for its second review of the UPR mechanism in 2013.


UN TREATY BODIES

The issue of caste discrimination in Bangladesh has not been addressed extensively by UN treaty bodies, but in 2011, the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) voiced concern at the lack of information and statistics on Dalit women. In 2009 the Committee on the Rights of the Child (CRC) made some interesting observations. CERD also made some preliminary comments on the basis of its review in 2001.

> Read UN treaty body recommendations on Bangladesh

> See a list of UN treaty body reviews by other caste-affected countries


UN SPECIAL PROCEDURES

Country visit

The Independent Expert on water and sanitation and the Independent Expert on human rights and extreme poverty visited Bangladesh in December 2009. Their report was presented to the 15th session of the Human Rights Council in September 2010 and contained some important references to caste discrimination. Read more here

Requests for visits to Bangladesh by UN Special Rapporteurs

The following Special Rapporteurs have requested a country visit to Bangladesh, which has so far only resulted in one invitation by the Government of Bangladesh:

Agreed upon:

  • SR on freedom of religion
  • SR on adequate housing

Outstanding requests (R) and follow-up requests/reminders:

  • (R in 2003) SR on the right to freedom of opinion and expression
  • (R in 2006) IE on minority issues
  • (R in 2006) (Reminder in 2008) SR on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions
  • (R in 2007) SR on independence of judges and lawyers
  • (R 2008) SR on contemporary forms of slavery
  • (R in Sep 2008) SR on racism        

> Read more about the UN Special Procedures and caste discrimination

> More information about country visits by UN Special Procedures


UN documents and reports: BANGLADESH

CRC_concl_obs_OPSC_Bangladesh.pdf

UPR_Bangladesh.pdf