DHAKA: Foreign Secretary Shahidul Haque currently visiting Geneva to attend the 20th session of the Committee on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of their Families in his capacity as an independent expert of the Committee on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of their Families (CMW).
During his stay in Geneva, Shahidul Haque also held bilateral meetings with DG (ILO), DG (IOM), DG (WHO) and Francoise Crepeau, Special Rapporteur on rights of migrant workers and the Secretariat of the Nansen Initiative.
He also briefed the international community in Geneva on the Bangladesh National Strategy to address the issue of undocumented Myanmar Nationals in Bangladesh.
He sought the cooperation of the international community for implementation of the Strategy. He also spoke at a Preparatory Meeting on the Global Expert Meeting on Migration in Post-2015 Development Agenda to be held in Dhaka on 28-29 April 2014, co-hosted by Bangladesh and Switzerland.
The Committee on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of their Families (CMW) is a UN Treaty Body of independent experts that monitors implementation of the 1990 International Convention on the protection of Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families.
Bangladesh is a member of the 1990 Convention. All State members of the Convention are obliged to submit regular reports to the Committee on how migrants’ rights are being fulfilled. The Committee, under certain circumstances, considers individual migrant’s complaints in relation to violation of their rights.
The Committee on Migrant Workers is composed of 14 independent experts, who have to be persons having high moral character, impartiality and recognized competence in the field covered by the International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of their Families, as per the Convention.
Members are elected for a term of four years by States parties in accordance with the Convention. Shahidul Haque was elected as member to the Committee last year with second highest number of votes. During the Committee meeting, Haque participated in the Review of periodic report of the Philippines, Uruguay, Mali and El-Salvador.
The Committee also deliberated on the status of the rights of migrants workers in the context of the Convention.
At the side lines of the CMW, the Foreign Secretary met with Guy Ryder, the DG of ILO. During the meeting, they discussed several issues pertaining to the interest of Bangladesh.
The Foreign Secretary highlighted Bangladesh’s progress after Rana Plaza incident; other possible areas of cooperation between Bangladesh and ILO; ILO Study on Bangladesh’s Employment Policy and ILO study on effects of climate change on employment, particularly in the areas of agriculture and fisheries.
DG ILO commended the progress made in terms of education and legislation in Bangladesh in the RMG sector. Foreign Secretary emphasized that there is a congenial environment which promotes dialogue particularly between the workers and employers in Bangladesh.
He informed the DG that the government is comprehensively looking at the labour rights in the EPZ. DG (ILO) assured of all possible support to Bangladesh in its efforts to ensure safety, security and rights of labor in Bangladesh.
During his meeting with Dr. Chan, DG (WHO), the Foreign Secretary thanked Dr. Chan for her support in the process of successfully adopting the Autism Resolution in the WHO Executive Board Meeting. Foreign Secretary highlighted four issues, which are – Bangladesh’s continued leadership role in addressing the global challenge posed by Autism Spectrum Disorders; securing further extension of the flexibility of the Intellectual property rights for the LDCs after 2015; health issues in post 2015 development agenda and Right to access to Health care services for migrant workers and their family members.
Shahidul Haque also met with the Swiss Permanent Representative to the UN Offices in Geneva, Fasel and the Secretariat of Nansen Initiative.
The Permanent representative briefed the Foreign Secretary on Nansen Initiative efforts to look at the issue of displacement due to climate change. Highlighting the importance that Bangladesh attaches to the climate change issues, the Foreign Secretary briefed the Swiss Permanent Representative on Bangladesh’s activities in this area. The Foreign Secretary will return to Dhaka tomorrow.
BDST: 1145 HRS, APR 10, 2014
