Experts of the Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Commend Bangladesh on Incorporating the Convention in Domestic Law, Ask Questions on Infanticide and Employment Support

The Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities today concluded its consideration of the initial report of Bangladesh on its implementation of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. Committee Experts commended Bangladesh for incorporating the Convention in domestic law, and asked questions on infanticide and on support for employment of persons with disabilities.

Danlami Umaru Basharu, Committee Expert and Country Co-Rapporteur, noted the tremendous improvements made in the field of human rights in Bangladesh, particularly through domesticating the Convention into law through the passage of the 2013 rights and protection of persons with disabilities act, and through translating the Convention into Bangla, including a child-friendly version.

Several Experts addressed the issue of infanticide. What steps, an Expert asked, had been taken to break the culture of infanticide of children with disabilities at birth? Vivian Fernández De Torrijos, Committee Expert and Country Co-Rapporteur, said that an appropriate monitoring mechanism needed to be established regarding infanticide.

A Committee Expert said that recruitment policies were incompatible with the Convention. The one per cent quota for the employment of persons with disabilities in the public sector was too low. The Government should reform immediately laws on employment to allow persons with disabilities to access decent jobs.

Introducing the report, Hasan Mahmud, Minister for Information and Broadcasting of Bangladesh and head of the delegation, said that the 2013 rights and protection of persons with disabilities act specified 20 different rights for persons with disabilities in Bangladesh. The Government also framed rules for the protection of the rights of persons with disabilities in 2015.

The delegation said that infanticide was punished with up to life imprisonment. The 2013 children act provided punitive measures for any physical punishment or exploitation of children. Currently the act was being revised and modernised. A free helpline and a mobile application were being established for child victims of abuse.

On employment support, Mr. Mahmud said that the Government had established the Physical Disability Protection Trust “Maitri Shilpa”, which aimed to emancipate persons with physical disabilities from unemployment. Many persons with disabilities had been employed in different institutes, aided by National Disabled Development Foundation job fairs. A vocational training centre had been established for persons with disabilities.

In concluding remarks, Mr. Mahmud said that Bangladesh had made notable progress toward upholding the rights of persons with disabilities, but there was still work to be done. Bangladesh was a developing country that had the highest population density in the world, and was negatively affected by climate change. Despite its problems however, it was exerting efforts to promote the rights of persons with disabilities.

In her concluding remarks, Ms. Fernández De Torrijos said that the Committee welcomed that the 2013 rights and protection of persons with disabilities act had incorporated the Convention into law, and that the State had implemented strong measures supporting persons with autism. There were important issues in Bangladesh, however, including stigmatisation and exploitation of children with disabilities; discrimination of women and girls with disabilities; and the lack of an independent monitoring organization in line with the Paris Principles. Ms. Fernández De Torrijos urged the State party to attend to the Committee’s general observations.

The delegation of Bangladesh consisted of representatives of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting; Ministry of Social Welfare; Ministry of Foreign Affairs; Disabled Rehabilitation and Research Association; and the Permanent Mission of Bangladesh to the United Nations Office at Geneva.

The Committee will issue its concluding observations on the report of Bangladesh at the end of its twenty-seventh session, which concludes on 9 September. Summaries of the public meetings of the Committee can be found here, while webcasts of the public meetings can be found here. The programme of work of the Committee’s twenty-seventh session and other documents related to the session can be found here.

The Committee will next meet in public on Monday, 29 August at 3 p.m. to review the initial report of Lao People's Democratic Republic (CRPD/C/LAO/1).

Report

The Committee has before it the initial report of Bangladesh (CRPD/C/BGD/1).

Presentation of Report

HASAN MAHMUD, Minister for Information and Broadcasting of Bangladesh and head of the delegation, said that in 1971, Bangladesh experienced a sharp rise in disability incidence and immediately after the liberation war, the State started the treatment and rehabilitation of persons with disabilities. The national Constitution enshrined the principles of equality, human dignity, and social justice for all citizens.

In 2008, the Government set up a high-level committee to draft legislation for persons with disabilities. The committee engaged in extensive consultations with over 14,000 people, including persons with disabilities and non-governmental organizations. The act that the committee produced, the 2013 rights and protection of persons with disabilities act, specified 20 different rights for persons with disabilities in Bangladesh. The Government also framed rules for the protection of the rights of persons with disabilities in 2015. The neuro-developmental disability trust act was also enacted in November 2013, and the National Neuro-Developmental Disability Trust was founded in 2014. Further, the Government had set up an Autism Resource Centre, which provided education and counselling to children with autism and their guardians.

Since the Universal Periodic Review of Bangladesh in 2018, the Government had implemented several recommendations and developed additional legislation and measures to realise the rights of persons with disabilities, including the Bangladesh rehabilitation council act, the mental health act, the disability affairs integrated special education policy, and the national strategic plan for neuro-developmental disorder.

The Government had formulated a national social security strategy paper in 2015. From 2009/2010 to 2021/2022, the number of beneficiaries of the disability allowance programme had increased seven-fold, the budget 19-fold and the per capita allowance more than doubled. The Government had developed a microfinance scheme, under which people with disabilities could access an interest-free loan. The extreme poverty rate had fallen to 10.5 per cent over the past decade. The reduction in the hardships faced by persons with disabilities was the natural outcome of economic development.

The Government supported and facilitated the work of nearly 400 non-governmental organizations and organizations for persons with disabilities. In 2021/22, a grant of 15 million Bangladeshi taka had been given to 17 national level institutions. Special grants were provided to persons with disabilities for treatment.

A parliamentarians’ caucus on disability was working for the protection of the rights of people with disabilities, ensuring that disability rights were discussed in parliament. In 2009, the Government constituted an independent national human rights commission, which was entrusted with monitoring the rights and fundamental freedoms of all citizens, especially those who were most vulnerable.

All public programmes were broadcast with sign language, and broadcasts regularly featured persons with disabilities. Bangladesh had legislation that strictly prohibited the negative portrayal of persons with disabilities. The Government had acceded to the Marrakesh Treaty, and facilitated access to published works for persons who were blind, visually impaired or otherwise print disabled. National web accessibility guidelines had also been developed.

Bangladesh was temporarily hosting more than 1.1 million Rohingya, including many persons with disabilities. The Government had constructed an island, “Bhashan Char”, to host refugee camps. The island had all modern amenities, including standard accessibility features for the persons with disabilities.

The Government had established the Physical Disability Protection Trust “Maitri Shilpa”; most of its employees were persons with disabilities. Maitri Shilpa aimed to emancipate persons with physical disabilities from unemployment. Bangladesh had also led and joined several global initiatives to promote the rights of persons with disabilities.

Questions by Committee Experts

DANLAMI UMARU BASHARU, Committee Expert and Country Co-Rapporteur, said the Committee sought solutions to the problems that faced persons with disabilities in Bangladesh, and through the dialogue would help to restore their dignity and ensure their full inclusion and participation in political and public life. He noted the tremendous improvements made in the field of human rights in Bangladesh, particularly through domesticating the Convention into law through the passage of the 2013 rights and protection of persons with disabilities act, and through translating the Convention into Bangla, including a child-friendly version.

Mr. Basharu noted persistent, multiple and intersectional discrimination against women and girls with disabilities, and wide-spread stigmatisation and exploitation of children with disabilities. He called on the State party to take immediate measures to address the grave violence and abuse against women and children with disabilities. He also called on the State party to eliminate the stigmatisation and exploitation of children with disabilities used as beggars, and to adopt measures to safeguard and protect children with disabilities from any form of fatality as a result of disability. Bangladesh should recognise sign language as an official language and establish the use of Easy-Read in the education of persons with psychosocial and intellectual disabilities. Finally, he called on the State party to establish an independent monitoring mechanism that met the requirements of the Paris Principles.

VIVIAN FERNÁNDEZ DE TORRIJOS, Committee Expert and Country Co-Rapporteur, said that Bangladesh was one of the first States to ratify international conventions protecting the rights of children. How did Bangladesh plan to guarantee equal rights for children with disabilities, considering that such rights were not supported by relevant legislation? What measures were in place to prohibit infanticide and corporal punishment?

A Committee Expert said that two seats were reserved for women with disabilities in the national parliament. How practical was this policy? What progress had been made on revising national legislation to protect the rights of women with disabilities? What programmes were in place to eradicate discrimination against women with disabilities? How was the Government ensuring an adequate budget for mainstreaming issues concerning women with disabilities? Were women with disabilities involved in the design of State policies and programmes?

Only a few State programmes had captioning and sign language interpretation. What action was the Government taking to make information accessible for persons with disabilities?

A Committee Expert asked how the Government planned to ensure that persons with disabilities would be consulted regarding policies and laws affecting them?

Awareness-raising programmes were mostly carried out in urban areas. What was being done to ensure that such programmes were also carried out in rural areas, and that persons with disabilities were involved in those campaigns? What measures were in place to combat harmful stereotypes regarding disabilities?

Another Committee Expert said that there was stigma surrounding mental health. What steps were being taken to address this? Were public officials properly trained to treat women and girls with disabilities? What steps had been taken to break the culture of infanticide of children with disabilities at birth?

One Committee Expert asked about the involvement of persons with disabilities in developing the 2019 action plan on disability. What measures had the State party taken to ensure that persons with disabilities could access information technology?

A Committee Expert said that persons with disabilities were referred to as “backwards citizens” in the State report. What measures were being taken to prevent the use of such negative nomenclature?

Another Committee Expert asked about steps taken to amend the 2013 disability act so that it addressed the discrimination faced by persons with leprosy? What was the status of the 2022 draft anti-discrimination bill? What measures were in place to increase the access of Rohingya children with disabilities to education, and the access of Rohingya persons with disabilities to food, hygiene and public services? What measures would the State party take to develop disaster reduction plans for Rohingya persons with disabilities?

One Committee Expert asked about measures to ensure the equality of men and women under the Constitution. What measures were in place to mitigate the effects of crises such as COVID-19 and climate change on persons with disabilities?

Responses by the Delegation

HASAN MAHMUD, Minister for Information and Broadcasting of Bangladesh and head of the delegation, said that the access to information act ensured that all persons with disabilities could access information from the Government. Bangladesh promoted access to and development of new technologies for persons with disabilities.

The delegation said that equality and non-discrimination were core principles of the Constitution. The 2022 anti-discrimination bill was being examined by parliament. Under the bill, an anti-discrimination committee would be established, and protections would be provided for persons affected by leprosy and their family members. The Government was committed to eliminating leprosy by 2030. Public awareness campaigns were in place to ensure that persons with leprosy did not face discrimination, and that special care services were provided for leprosy patients in hospitals.

The 2013 children act and the 2011 national children policy were among the core instruments protecting children with disabilities. The rights of all children with disabilities to respectable living conditions were protected, and their participation in education was promoted through these instruments. Families with children with disabilities were provided with financial support, and the educational infrastructure was being made more accessible. Non-governmental organizations had established support centres for children with autism and neuro-development disabilities. Early learning centres had been established to support the poorest children with disabilities, and early learning and development standards had been developed.

Committees had been formed at grassroots and regional levels to protect the rights of persons with disabilities. The State organised various national days to reduce stigma around disabilities, such as Autism Day and Down Syndrome Day.

The 2013 rights of persons with disabilities act contained guidelines for making buildings accessible, and for promoting sign language. Guidelines for accessible web design had also been developed. An innovation fund had awarded funds to 12 new technologies that assisted communication for persons with disabilities. Wheelchairs and ramps were provided at airports, and tactile pavements were being installed in shopping centres. The State was investing in the development of accessible buses and rail platforms. Accessible toilets were being built in various medical facilities. Around 33,000 Government websites had been reviewed and made accessible, and 1,000 pieces of software had been developed to provide accessible information.

The Government consulted with organizations of persons with disabilities and non-governmental organizations on all policies it developed. The Government was making national support programmes accessible to all women with disabilities.

Infanticide was punished with up to life imprisonment. The 2013 children act provided punitive measures for any physical punishment or exploitation of children. Currently the act was being revised and modernised. A free helpline and a mobile application were being established for child victims of abuse.

The United Nations Children's Fund was providing free learning activities following the Myanmar curriculum for Rohingya children in camps, including children with disabilities. Ensuring security in the camps remained a priority for the State, which was why fences were built around them. Hosting these refugees was a huge burden for Bangladesh. The international community needed to defend the rights of the Rohingya.

Questions by Committee Experts

DANLAMI UMARU BASHARU, Committee Expert and Country Co-Rapporteur, asked if definitions of “disability” in the 2013 rights of persons with disabilities act were aligned with the Convention. What measures were in place to enact the 2015 anti-discrimination bill for persons with leprosy? The Committee was concerned about the registration of births, marriages and deaths, especially for refugee children. Rohingya had limited access to registration services. What measures would the State party take to address this issue?

A Committee Expert said that there were no clear budget allocations for measures supporting persons with disabilities. Would the Government establish a support budget for persons with disabilities? What measures were in place to establish a monitoring mechanism for the implementation of the Convention?

VIVIAN FERNÁNDEZ DE TORRIJOS, Committee Expert and Country Co-Rapporteur, asked how Bangladesh planned to ensure equality before the law for persons with intellectual disabilities, when laws prevented them from purchasing land and marrying.

A Committee Expert asked what measures were in place to strengthen training for public officials on combatting violence against women and girls with disabilities. Persons with disabilities were subjected to forced interventions and medical treatment. What steps was the State party taking to prevent these practices?

Another Committee Expert said that State laws denied legal capacity for persons with intellectual disabilities to enter a contract. What measures were in place to abolish these laws?

One Committee Expert asked if sign language interpretation was provided in courts. Were there any members of the judiciary with disabilities? The 1912 “lunacy act” allowed for the treatment of persons with psychosocial disabilities without their consent. What measures were in place to revise this legislation? Was forced abortion practised?

A Committee Expert said that Bangladesh had done well in preparing legislation protecting persons with disabilities, however, there was a gap between policy and practice. What mechanisms were in place to ensure that laws were adhered to? What training was provided to public officials regarding supporting persons with disabilities to access justice? What measures would the State party take to ensure that community-based services were available to persons with disabilities to enable them to live independently?

Another Committee Expert said that Bangladesh was particularly affected by floods and landslides. What measures were in place to protect persons with disabilities from such disasters? Were disaster shelters accessible for persons with disabilities? What training was provided to rescue professionals in assisting persons with disabilities? Were persons with disabilities involved in developing disaster response strategies?

Responses by the Delegation

HASAN MAHMUD, Minister for Information and Broadcasting of Bangladesh and head of the delegation, said that in 2015, Bangladesh had adopted a disaster management policy that outlined guidelines for data collection on affected persons with disabilities. A person with disabilities was required to be present in disaster response taskforces. Training was provided for public officials on providing psychosocial and other support for persons with disabilities.

Persons with intellectual or physiological disabilities could not make sound judgements, and therefore were not permitted to enter contracts. This was standard practice across the world. All other persons with disabilities could enter contracts.

A training and rehabilitation centre had been established for persons with disabilities. At the end of the training, a rehabilitation allowance was provided. The National Disabled Development Foundation had donated over 60 million Bangladeshi taka to this training scheme. An early detection scheme was in place to identify children with autism.

Initiatives were in place to support the employment of persons with disabilities, and the Government promoted products produced by persons with disabilities. Most of the employees of the Physical Disability Workers’ Trust were persons with disabilities. A regular health check-up programme for workers with disabilities was funded by the State.

Persons with disabilities had full access to the justice system. The Government had produced a legal aid act in 2000 that allowed persons with disabilities to receive free legal aid from the Government. Some court buildings had ramps installed, and provisions for sign language interpretation were provided. 2020 guidelines on access to justice aimed to enhance judicial capacity and eliminate barriers to access to justice for persons with disabilities.

The National Disabled Development Foundation provided mobility devices to persons with disabilities. Around 57,000 assistive devices were provided free of cost in 2021. A handful of institutions were producing these devices, including artificial limbs, within Bangladesh. Ramps and accessibility counters had been created in train stations. Express and inter-city trains had dedicated seats for persons with disabilities provided at 50 per cent discount. Persons with visual disabilities could travel in metropolitan trains for free.

In 2018, the “lunacy act” was replaced, and updated legislation had provisions for treatment and care. A sectional mental health plan had been developed under the 2018 mental health act. Bangladesh aimed to scale up all provisions for persons with intellectual disabilities.

A torture and custodial act had been adopted in 2013. This act punished the torture of any person. Since the act came into force, no act of torture had been recorded.

National policies protected women and children against violence and abuse. Support centres for victims provided free counselling and support services for all victims of crime. The Government had enacted the domestic violence act in 2010 to prevent violence against women and children. Legislation also prevented sexual harassment of women and harassment of domestic workers. All extrajudicial punishments had been made illegal. A helpline had also been established for victims of violence. DNA screening laboratories had been established to identify rapists. Involuntary confinement without consent was prohibited. Forced sterilisation and forced abortion was not practiced.

The Constitution guaranteed the equality of treatment for all people. To achieve this, it was important to identify underprivileged groups, and this was done using the word “backward”. This term did not refer to persons with disabilities specifically. The Prime Minister referred to persons with disabilities as “assets”.

The Government considered infanticide as a serious crime and took appropriate legal action in response.

The definition of “disability” within legislation was fully in line with the definition in the Convention.

A national leprosy programme was established in 1985, promoting the study and treatment of the disease. Dedicated hospitals gave treatment for leprosy.

Legislation did not use the word “reasonable accommodation,” but it did provide such accommodation. Reasonable accommodation was a constant aim for the State. The independent National Human Rights Commission was monitoring the implementation of the Convention through a dedicated body containing members with disabilities. Following recommendations from the Commission, COVID-19 testing for persons with disabilities was provided on a priority basis, as was support for infected persons. The Commission had also made recommendations that had been reflected in revised legislation on persons with disabilities.

Questions by Committee Experts

A Committee Expert said that children with disabilities and their families needed to be properly informed regarding cochlear implant surgery and its potential side-effects.

Another Committee Expert said that negative references such as “backwards” needed to be eradicated from the Constitution.

One Committee Expert said that every person with disabilities should enjoy equal legal capacity in all aspects of life. What was being done to make this possible? There were not enough assistive devices available in Bangladesh. What was the Government doing to ensure that persons with disabilities were able to obtain the devices that they needed?

A Committee Expert asked about the extent of provision of sign language interpretation in legal procedures. Who paid the cost of such services? Were there any awareness-raising programmes related to independent living for persons with disabilities, or support measures for obtaining personal assistants?

DANLAMI UMARU BASHARU, Committee Expert and Country Co-Rapporteur, said that there was an absence of captioning and audio descriptions on television. What was the State party doing to implement these? Living benefits for persons with disabilities were insufficient, and Government shelters for the homeless did not accommodate persons with disabilities. How did the Government intend to address this?

Voting booths were often located on the top floors of buildings, and voters’ privacy was infringed by voting officers who assisted persons with disabilities. What was being done to support voters with disabilities? When did the State party intend to make cultural and sporting facilities accessible?

VIVIAN FERNÁNDEZ DE TORRIJOS, Committee Expert and Country Co-Rapporteur, said that an appropriate monitoring mechanism needed to be established regarding infanticide.

What measures were in place to protect the privacy of persons with disabilities in medical institutions? Data on disability needed to include people with leprosy as a specific category until there was a significant drop in stigma against this group.

A Committee Expert asked about measures supporting persons with disabilities to start a family. What measures were in place to prevent discrimination of persons with disabilities relating to marriage and family? Women with disabilities were denied access to information and services related to reproductive health. What measures were in place to provide such information?

What measures were in place to support the employment of persons with disabilities, including persons with psychosocial disabilities? What measures were in place to prevent discrimination in the public sector? What measures had been taken to implement the quota provision in the 2019 disability action plan?

A Committee Expert said that attention given to leprosy had decreased in the State. What measures were being taken to remedy this situation. What measures were in place to support persons with disabilities working on tea plantations? What measures were in place to prevent in-family discrimination? Had reforms been made to ensure that all persons with disabilities received financial subsidies, and to provide subsidies to organizations of persons with disabilities?

A Committee Expert asked about measures in place to promote young persons and women with disabilities in the private and public sector, and to ensure that they received equal pay. What percentage of persons with disabilities were employed in the public sector? What measures were in place to allow for vote casting by secret ballot for persons with disabilities? Was voter education provided to persons with disabilities? What measures were in place to appoint women with disabilities in Government positions?

A new education act “considered persons with disabilities in mainstream education”. Had this act been ratified by parliament, and had concrete measures been implemented to promote inclusive education? What measures were in place to support persons with disabilities with assistive technologies in education? Had facilities in schools been improved? What percentage of persons with disabilities were employed? What measures were in place to incentivise the private sector to employ more persons with disabilities? Were there support systems in place for parliamentarians with disabilities? What was the current population of persons with disabilities according to the most recent census?

A Committee Expert asked about mechanisms through which students could access materials in accessible formats. Was there a capacity building programme for teachers regarding inclusive education? Were there any programmes supporting persons with disabilities to pursue higher education? Were there mechanisms to support health care and quality of life for persons with less common disabilities, such as people of short stature?

Another Committee Expert said that recruitment policies were incompatible with the Convention. The one per cent quota for the employment of persons with disabilities in the public sector was too low. The Government should reform immediately laws on employment to allow persons with disabilities to access decent jobs.

One Committee Expert asked whether national data was disaggregated based on disability. What tools were used to survey persons with disabilities, and how did the State party ensure privacy when it collected data?

Responses by the Delegation

Bangladesh had introduced an information technology contest for youth with disabilities. An accessible web platform had been developed to ensure access to information technology. A job portal had also been developed for persons with disabilities. A device for converting sign language gestures into text and text into Braille had also been developed. The national television channel and some private channels had incorporated sign language captioning.

The persons with disabilities allowance programme had been introduced in 2006. Allowances provided had increased by 2.5 times since that time, and the number of recipients had increased 20-fold. Funds were transferred monthly.

Educational institutions were prevented from rejecting enrolment based on disability. A policy on integrated education for children with neuro-development disabilities had been developed in 2019. There were 74 special schools for children with intellectual disabilities. Ten schools had been established for children with autism. Special education programmes were provided in higher education institutions. An integrated education programme was in place for school students with visual impairments. A stipend programme to support schooling costs was provided to 100,000 children with disabilities. A national autism academy had been established that provided vocational training. Around 480 teachers had received training in assisting students with autism. Braille textbooks and textbooks in other accessible formats were distributed to children with disabilities in schools.

The disability act established the right of persons with disabilities to a healthy environment. The act required hospitals to provide accessible communication. Centres for integrated disability services provided free services such as hearing tests in three districts. An autism research centre had also been established to provide counselling and therapeutic services free of cost, and mobile vans provided services to persons with disabilities in rural areas. The neuro-developmental disorders protection trust provided training for health care workers regarding neuro-developmental disorders and rehabilitation services within hospitals. A cell developing policy on autism and neuro-developmental disorders had been established within the Government. Awareness-raising campaigns on neuro-developmental disorders were being carried out. The Government planned to develop early identification programmes for neuro-developmental disorders and a national strategy for mental health.

National universities, stadia and other cultural facilities were equipped with accessible facilities, and construction of accessible facilities at various cultural sites was ongoing.

Laws related to marriage were applicable to persons with disabilities. Persons with disabilities had the right to reasonable housing. As of January 2022, around 2.4 million persons with disabilities had been identified through the disability detection survey programme, and data was aggregated based on disability. There was no specific data on the employment of persons with disabilities in the public or private sectors. The sixth census of 2022 had collated data based on disability, finding that the rate of disability was 1.43 per cent.

The disability act provided for the right to employment and pensions for persons with disabilities. Employers were prohibited from discriminating against persons with disabilities in hiring procedures. The Government was providing start-up loans to persons with disabilities. Many persons with disabilities had been employed in different institutes, aided by National Disabled Development Foundation job fairs. A vocational training centre had been established for persons with disabilities.

Apart from persons of unsound mind, persons with disabilities were able to participate in elections in Bangladesh. Polling officers were instructed to assist persons with disabilities in voting procedures.

A lifetime development programme had been introduced for tea plantation workers. This programme supported 50,000 workers with financial assistance once a year. The Government had supplied social welfare to poor and disadvantaged people since 2009, and subsidised private medical treatment. Children with mental disabilities enjoyed institutional support.

The Government paid legal fees for persons with disabilities. Sign language interpretation was made available in court on request. The Ministry of Social Welfare had established service centres across the State to provide mobility devices free of cost.

The Government had an awareness programme on leprosy, and was cooperating with non-governmental organizations to identify cases at an early stage and provide support.

Closing Remarks

HASAN MAHMUD, Minister for Information and Broadcasting of Bangladesh and head of the delegation, thanked the Committee for the dialogue, which had given the delegation a better understanding of how to improve compliance with the Convention. The Government had duly prioritised human rights, and had been working relentlessly to ensure that persons with disabilities were not left behind. The Government was willing to upgrade legal structures to meet the demands of persons with disabilities. Bangladesh had made notable progress toward upholding the rights of persons with disabilities, but there was still work to be done. It was committed to continue to engage with United Nations human rights bodies. Bangladesh was a developing country that had the highest population density in the world, and was negatively affected by climate change. Despite its problems, however, it was exerting efforts to promote the rights of persons with disabilities.

VIVIAN FERNÁNDEZ DE TORRIJOS, Committee Expert and Country Co-Rapporteur, thanked the delegation for the dialogue. The Committee appreciated Bangladesh’s comprehensive responses, and the contributions of civil society. Most initiatives in Bangladesh supporting persons with disabilities were specialised and segregated. The Committee welcomed that the 2013 rights and protection of persons with disabilities act had incorporated the Convention into law, and that the State had implemented strong measures supporting persons with autism. There were important issues in Bangladesh, however, including the lack of data on persons with disabilities; lack of accessibility to justice; stigmatisation and exploitation of children with disabilities, who had a lack of access to health care and education; discrimination of women and girls with disabilities; lack of support for civil society organizations; and the lack of an independent monitoring organization in line with the Paris Principles. The Committee would prepare general observations regarding these issues, and Ms. Fernández De Torrijos urged the State party to attend to them.