The Law Desk has teamed up with 'Law Watch, A Centre for Studies on Human Rights Law', to launch a Campaign for National Human Rights Institutions (CNHRI). The proposed network (CNHRI) will act initially as a pressure group to establish an independent National Human Rights Commission and an Office of Ombudsman in Bangladesh. Individuals and groups having proven track record of 'credible human rights work' and 'institution building experiences' are invited to join the initiative. The Law Desk is interested to receive your opinions, suggestions and writings on national human rights institutions. Selected entries will be published in LAW AND OUR RIGHTS

National human rights institutions are being set up in many parts of the world. While the powers of these institutions in the different countries vary, there seems to be a 'core concept' emerging. In many countries, such national institutions have not matched the high expectations they generated when they were first set up. On the other hand, in some other countries, where the expectations were not so great, national institutions have yielded some positive results. The succeeding governments of Bangladesh did not keep the promises of 'establishing a number of national human rights institutions' they had made to the people. The network will strive to advocate for their early establishment in accordance with international standards.

If you have any query regarding the network or the issue, please do not hesitate contact us at Law Desk,
The Daily Star (lawdesk20@hotmail.com; lawdesk@thedailystarnet.com);
Law Watch (lawwatch@msn.com;lawwatch2001@yahoo.com).