ANNUAL HUMAN RIGHTS REPORT 2022 - Bangladesh

Odhikar continues to struggle for the establishment of a democratic state based on equality, human dignity and social justice. Odhikar monitors and highlights the human rights situation of the country, with the aim of ensuring the civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights of the people. Odhikar has faced severe state repression and harassment since 2013. In 2022, government surveillance and harassment on Odhikar continued.

On NTF-ELCAC’s Opposition of the Human Rights Defenders’ Protection Act

The National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) claims that House Bill (HB) No. 77 or the proposed Human Rights Defenders Protection Act (HRD Protection Act) is a “grave, vicious, and insidious threat against democracy.” This, however, is self-defeating for the task force. Since its formation, NTF-ELCAC has been known to maliciously tag dissenters and critics of the government as communists and rebels, thus opposing the essence of a true democracy in which dissent should not be limited, much less demonized.

MARTIN ENNALS AWARD CEREMONY 2023 - Khurram Parvez

Martin Ennals Award

The Martin Ennals Award is an annual prize for human rights defenders. Finalists and the Laureate are selected by a Jury of ten of the world’s leading human rights NGOs. The Award provides protection and support to human rights defenders who are at risk.

Joint Letter to the President of the Republic of Korea, Yoon Suk-yeol.

Re: The Republic of Korea’s speedy accession to the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance and effective implementation to fulfil its responsibility as a global pivotal state

Dear President Yoon Suk-yeol,

We welcome the National Assembly’s assent to the Republic of Korea’s accession to the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance on 8 December 2022. Now, we urge your government to speedily accede to the Convention, followed by declarations recognizing the competence of the Committee on Enforced Disappearances to receive and consider communications from individuals or other states parties under articles 31 and 32 of the Convention and measures to ensure effective domestic implementation of the Convention to fulfil the Republic of Korea’s responsibility as a global pivotal state.