Brussels – February 19, 2025 – Global Human Rights Defence (GHRD) hosted a high-level event at the European Parliament, shedding light on the severe and systematic human rights violations faced by minorities in Bangladesh. The discussion centered on the pivotal 2024 elections and the subsequent national uprising, highlighting the urgent need for international intervention to safeguard marginalized communities.
Event at the European Parliament
The event commenced with an opening speech by GHRD, emphasizing the necessity of addressing the escalating persecution faced by minority communities in Bangladesh. The event was honored by the presence of distinguished members of the European Parliament (MEPs) and other key stakeholders committed to human rights advocacy.
The recent event saw a notable gathering of distinguished attendees, including Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) such as Miriam Lexmann, Ioan-Rareş Bogdan, Giusi Princi, Șerban-Dimitrie Sturdza, Alessandra Moretti, Rosa Estaràs Ferragut, Marco Falcone, and Fulvio Martusciello. Additionally, Himanshu Gulati and John Erik Selle, both Members of the Norwegian Parliament, contributed to the discussions. The event also featured Thierry Valle, Director of Coordination des Associations & Particuliers pour la Liberté de Conscience, and Professor Chandan Sarkar, who participated online, highlighting the diverse perspectives represented at this significant gathering.
MEP Giusi PRINCI stressed the importance of mutual respect and its necessity for peaceful coexistence. She commended the solidarity shown by the Hindu community and raised concerns about the alarming situation for women, citing ongoing cases of trafficking and forced marriages. She called for economic and diplomatic measures to pressure Bangladesh to enact reforms that ensure human rights protections.
MEP Ioan-Rareş BOGDAN spoke passionately about the plight of women and religious minorities, condemning forced marriages, physical violence, and persecution. He urged Bangladesh to strengthen its legal framework to ensure the full inclusion and protection of minority communities, emphasizing that the defense of human rights is not just a legal obligation but a moral duty.
MEP Șerban-Dimitrie STURDZA highlighted the failures of Bangladesh’s new government to uphold promised reforms. He pointed to continued human rights abuses, arbitrary arrests, and suppression of the press. He urged the EU and the UN to maintain pressure on Bangladesh to ensure structural change, advocating for the use of economic and diplomatic tools beyond trade preferences such as the Generalised Scheme of Preferences (GSP).
MEP Miriam LEXMANN emphasized the importance of religious freedom and human rights, drawing from her experience with totalitarian regimes. She warned of the growing influence of China in the region and criticized the EU’s weak enforcement of sanctions against human rights violators. She called for stronger monitoring mechanisms and greater accountability from the European Commission.
MEP Marco FALCONE underscored that the fight for human rights is a universal duty. He emphasized the EU’s responsibility in upholding fundamental rights and urged for stronger global enforcement mechanisms to prevent continued abuses.
Thierry VALLE Director of CAP LC, called for increased international monitoring of human rights violations, urging the United Nations and other organizations to take stronger action. He stressed that without accountability, perpetrators would continue their abuses with impunity.
MEP Alessandra MORETTI highlighted the use of violence against women as a tool of oppression in various conflicts, including in Bangladesh. She called for urgent action to combat gender-based violence and ensure the protection of vulnerable women in oppressive regimes.
The event concluded with a strong call for international intervention, emphasizing the need for diplomatic, economic, and legal measures to ensure human rights are upheld in Bangladesh. GHRD and its partners remain committed to advocating for the protection and dignity of all marginalized communities facing persecution.
For further information, please contact:
Global Human Rights Defence (GHRD)
https://ghrd.org/ info@ghrd.org +31 62 72 41006
