Distinguished Professor Dr. Ali Riaz has published a research report on the challenges to the Human Rights Defenders in Bangladesh. The report draws on a survey of human rights activists and Key Informant Interviews (KIIs) conducted by the Centre for Governance Studies (CGS) of Bangladesh. Who Defends the Defenders highlights the plight of the human rights activists. According to the report, of the 50 respondents, 86% said that they face significant hindrances in protecting and reporting human rights violations. More than 42% respondents said that various actors connected to the state are the sources of the threats and intimidations. Ruling party activists have been identified as sources by 23.7% of respondents. The report, among others, recommended that the government stop all forms of harassment of Human Rights Organizations (HROs) and Human Rights Defenders (HRDs), and should legislate laws based on UN resolutions of 1998 and 2015.
Riaz presented the findings in an event at Dhaka, Bangladesh on July, with participation by prominent human rights activists, a news editor and the chairperson of the National human Rights Commission. The report publication event was attended by political and human rights officers from the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, the European Union, several embassies, and high commissioners.
