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Poor legal system reason for increasing crimes

Asma Jahangir at discussion meet

Staff Correspondent
International human rights activist Asma Jahangir yesterday said poor criminal justice and legal system in the region including Bangladesh is the root cause of increasing crime and urged the governments to revamp the system to address the issue.
Asma Jahangir, the UN special rapporteur on freedom of religion and belief, was addressing a discussion on 'Human Rights: Local and
Global Perspectives', organised by Manusher Jonno, a human rights and good governance initiative, as part of its a three-day conference on the issue.
"There is a complete lack of capacity in the existing system of criminal justice and questions have been raised about its effectiveness," Asma said.
"Under the existing system some people gel impunity while some others are beyond the justice or they ®iejlaty^far
are so powerful that we are unable to bring them to justice," she said, adding, "The Latin American countries have improved the situation by revamping the legal and justice system."
Regarding changes, she said, "The office of the attorney general can take an independent role and the public prosecutors have to act independently”. She also suggested infra-structural development, especially building shelter houses for women and children.
In the discussion attended by human rights workers from nongovernment organisations, local government representatives and legal experts, the eminent human rights activist also talked about her experiences on the issue, role of the UN, challenges for human rights activists in the context of the US led 'war against terrorism'.
Asma said some countries, especially the US, are redefining human rights and related issues after the September 11,2001 incident.
"The Iran situation following the 'illegal war' by the US has brought a new challenge for human rights activists who have to redefine issues like arbitrary detention," she said.
On the roles of the UN and its different components in upholding human rights, she said, "The organisation works very slowly. Besides, there are political interventions in the UN... the US is very much influential there."
Eminent lawyers Dr Shahdeen Malik and barrister Sara Hossain also addressed the programme moderated by Shireen Huq, senior programme officerofDANIDA.
"Extra judicial killings by the Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) in 'crossfire' have created a very bad image of the country," said Shahdeen Malik, adding that those who do not believe in democracy are usingsuch forces.
He called upon the government
to immediatelystopsuch 'organised arid regular killings'.
Dr Malik said the Chinagong Hill TYacts (CUT) peace accord has not been implemented even after more than seven years. Indigenous people there may go for armed conflict again if the government continues denying their rights for years, he said.
Sara Hossain lauded the role of media and NGOs in bringing human rights issues to the fore and said public interest litigation has been proved effective in bringing about positive results.
ztfter the general session, five workshops were held on different issues related to human rights and governance.
Maleka Begum placed a keynote on Violence against Women’ and Monira Rahman of the Acid Survivors Foundation and Dr Ferdous Azim of the Nari Pakkha took part in discussions. Dr Sttahn az Huda moderated the programme.
Professor Ahmed Kamal moderated another workshop on 'Rights of Marginalised People' where Khushi Kabir and Dr Nafisur Rahman spoke.
In another workshop on 'Rights of Children', Afsan Chowdhury of Brae placed a keynote and UM Habibunnesa and Dr Nayla Khan tookpart in discussions.
Suriya Haq of the Fulki moder-' ated the workshop on 'Rights of Working People in Formal and Non-formal Areas' and Enayetullah Khan, editor of the New Age, Shirin Akhter of Kormojibi Nari, Sultan Mahmud of the BILS and Pratima Paul of the Bangladesh Instinite of Development Studies held the discussion.
Dr Shirin Sharmeen Chowdhury placed a keynote on 'Electoral Rights' where Munira Khan of the FEMA. Dr Nazmul Ahsan Kalimullah of Janipop, Roekya Kabir of the BNPS, AHM Noman of the CCHRB and Sharmin Mursheed of the Brotee tookpart in discussions.