Law and Human Rights

The book addresses various issues related to child-based policies in 1989, the UN adopted the Child Rights convention. Since then, the rights of children, particularly the participation of children in social and political decision making, have become an action slogan for many NGO’s. At the same time, the ILO has formulated new policies on worst forms of child labour. Since then, the occurrence of child labour in developing countries, specifically in export oriented industries, has become a focus of international attention and of many government initiatives.

In presenting a chronology of the violations of human rights, Human Rights in Bangladesh 1998, suggests the nature of systemic, institutional and cultural weaknesses which allow such transgressions to take place. It is an important source book compiling and analyzing data that reflects upon the situation of human rights in Bangladesh. Ain o Salish Kendro (ASK), a legal aid and human rights organization has been publicizing the situation of human rights in Bangladesh since 1996.

Human Rights in Bangladesh 1996 provides a systematic analysis of the violation of human rights in Bangladesh. Based on newspaper reports, fact finding investigations and eye witness accounts, it explains how the impediments to democratic institutions and practice, as well as the rule of law have undermined the promotion of constitutional and human rights. This book is a collective exercise undertaken for the first time by three human rights organizations. The first part examines how political forces and processes have encouraged authoritarianism.

Bangladesh, despite its commendable progress in terms of basic education, has not been able to deal with its child labour problem. There is no single approach to the eradication of the problem, but a better understanding of the reasons why children work, the conditions under which they work and the impact it has on their lives should go a long way in improving policies and in raising awareness. It is important to document how damaging child labour can be. This study of the capital city of the country Dhaka, is revealing in many ways.