Editorial
A milestone decision
HR commission must be able to work independently
The Council of Advisers has approved the National Human Rights Commission Ordinance 2007, thus tak-ing a step towards fulfilling the long-standing demand of the civil society and the proponents of social justice for dealing institutionally with all types of human rights impingements. We have been among a tiny minority of countries in the world without the benefit of having such a commission for years.
We, therefore, welcome the decision. The past po-litical governments' pledge to set up the HRC was never translated into any concrete move, though much lip-service was rendered to the need for setting up such a commission. However, the HRC needs to be a truly effective body capable of doing enough to bring the violators of human rights to justice. In other words, its functions should not remain confined to surveys, ob-servations and issuing statements.
However, the selection committee that is to recommend the panel for appointment of commission chairman and members to president comprises some bureaucrats and heads of statutory bodies. The selection committee does not have representatives from the civil society or human rights bodies.
We can draw lessons from the fiasco with the ACC during the past BNP government. It was a non-starter at the initial stage and looked as if it were a mere extension of the bureaucracy. It fell on the present interim government to reconstitute it and make it workable. The pitfalls should be avoided. What such organisations need is autonomous power and the freedom to exercise it. So, the prime job of the HRC will be to en-sure that the violators of human rights are not merely identified but also punished according to the law. It has to work as a shield for the oppressed and should be powerful enough to neutralize political influence or social clout of the vested groups.
The formation of HRC is the result of civil society and human rights advocates pleading relentlessly over the years for building up this bastion of justice, which will often be the last resort of people subjected to oppression. Lots of discussion took place in the past about the possible structure and function of the HRC in our context. Obviously, there are very sensitive areas which have a direct bearing on the country's image to the outside world. So, careful and discreet handling coupled with a firm commitment to establishing acceptable human rights standards is needed here. Furthermore, the political governments in future will have to bear in mind that this is a sacred institution which must be allowed to retain its independent character.
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel.
Comments