High Commissioner: Bangladeshi students have stood up for human rights, equality and justice

Dear students, colleagues, friends,

The students and faculty of Dhaka University have a long, rich history of activism – mobilising powerfully over the past 80 years for independence, freedom of expression and language rights, for equal representation – and against military rule. And now, for democracy, accountability, and equality. As your distinguished Professor, Serajul Islam Chowdhury, once observed, this university has encouraged people to not only dream about freedom and equality, but to take action to move that dream closer to reality.

Together with other students from both private and public universities, from madrasas, colleges and schools, together with people from across the country you have shown great courage in standing up for justice and equality for the people of Bangladesh.

So I am truly honoured to be speaking here today – at a pivotal time, and in a symbolic place.

And I am humbled and inspired by your stories of bravery, resilience, solidarity, and commitment to human rights.

Students helping injured demonstrators. Rickshaw drivers risking their lives to assist the protesters. Women leaders who broke the locks on their dormitories, shattered stereotypes, took to the streets to protest and inspired millions.

I also want to recognize the terrible price paid by many protestors and bystanders – including your friends and classmates – who were killed or seriously wounded.  Many will be left with long-term disabilities. Hundreds were hit in the head and eyes including by pellets, and might lose vision forever.  Many are still undergoing treatment and I wish them all a swift and complete recovery.

Our presence here today, marking a new beginning for Bangladesh, is a testament to their courage and a memorial to their sacrifice.

Let’s pause for a moment in their memory [few seconds of silence].

Dear students,

As a university student in Austria, many years ago, I learned how human rights could transform societies for the better. This simple but powerful idea has guided my life and career ever since – and it resonates strongly with me here, today.

We live in troubling times, when conflicts rage, international law is abused, human rights are trampled, and our world is more unequal than ever. Too often, our economies prioritise profit over people and the planet. And polarization and corruption are combining with rampant disinformation to weaken democracy globally.

Young people, everywhere, are facing a tumultuous world, filled with deepening inequality and ongoing economic crises and uncertainty. Your present and future are being threatened by climate chaos that is becoming more destructive and ferocious every day.  

In Bangladesh, you know this better than most.

For much of your lives, destructive and corrupt politics entrenched an economy of inequality, irrespective of who was in charge. Political opposition, civic dissent and peaceful protest were suppressed, often violently. Atrocious violations – like extrajudicial killings, enforced disappearances, arbitrary arrests and detentions and torture – were met with denial and impunity.

Prosperity, opportunity, decision-making, and equality were off limits for many people. And young people struggled in specific ways. Many were marginalized and disenfranchised, without access to quality education and jobs.

But earlier this year, you seized the moment to put your country on a different pathway.

Bangladesh now has an historic opportunity to renew and revitalise a genuine democracy. To deliver deep reform. To start a process of truth, justice and healing. To ensure that the benefits of development are enjoyed by all people. And to rebuild your country on a foundation of equality – where every voice is heard and valued, irrespective of class, gender, race, political ideology or religion.

And it is young people who have led the way.

This is emblematic of a truth I see all around the world.

While global leaders play politics with your future, young people are showing true leadership.

Everywhere, they are standing up for climate action, justice and human rights. 

Like you, they give me hope for the future.

Dear students and friends,

Democracy is one of the most powerful ideas ever dreamed up by humanity. It has spurred people to act for two and a half thousand years. But it is also fragile – something that we must nurture and protect – particularly in its earliest stages.  

I know you are all focused on that task. And I know you are aware of the pitfalls that led other pro-democracy movements into a dead end.

Human rights and the rule of law can be your roadmap and the compass, as you navigate the path from the violence of the recent past towards a new society and future. 

They provide understanding and clarity.

They represent a vehicle for empowerment, unlocking the freedoms we are all entitled to.

They provide a governance model that ensures development is underpinned by inclusion, participation and accountability.

They can provide a guarantee of non-recurrence, that such abuse of power should never happen again.

What does that mean for Bangladesh today?

That is for Bangladeshis to decide.

I would like to offer some observations.

First, a human rights approach calls for truth, justice,  and healing for recent events and past human rights violations.

These are the vital building blocks of just societies. Without healing, the legacy of violence is simply more violence and more victims. We cannot allow a vicious new cycle of reprisals and revenge to repeat itself. Take inspiration from role models such as Nelson Mandela.

The pursuit of justice must also go beyond trials of those responsible, and address the root causes to achieve the broader social transformation to which you aspire. We need to look forward, not only backwards.

Such an approach should begin with a broad-based national dialogue to design a pathway towards truth, accountability, reparation, and national healing. It must be inclusive and centered on survivors and victims. Let me also stress that psychosocial support is crucial following the trauma that many of you, your fellow students and loved ones have experienced, and I will be urging the international community to support you in this healing process.

Second, at a broader level, Bangladesh has an important opportunity to confront longstanding human rights violations, rebuild an open, diverse and tolerant civic space, and reform key State institutions.

This is essential to rebuild social cohesion, restore trust in institutions and ensure such abuse of power can never happen again.

A human rights approach requires examination, abolition and reform of repressive laws and institutions that stifle dissent. It means questioning whether punishments like the death penalty will help to take society forward. I am firmly against the death penalty and will continue advocating for its abolition here in this country and elsewhere.

And a human rights approach requires an open environment for journalists, trade unionists, civil society activists and other human rights defenders to work freely and independently.

As student activists, you represent a new generation of human rights defenders to stand up for the values and principles inherent in human rights.

I would like to stress that how you go about this is equally important.

Beware of the idea that the ends justify the means. The process through which you seek change is just as crucial as the outcome.   Strengthening institutions can be more important in the long term than tearing them down. A State cannot function without strong and independent institutions anchored in human rights. This will take time.

Creating a wider and more diverse civic space requires an inclusive approach, protecting minority groups, including Hindus, Christians, Buddhists and indigenous communities, and ensuring their full participation in decision-making.

This diversity enriches society and enables all to benefit from different experiences and perspectives.  

Women played a frontline role in the pro-democracy protests and in the strategizing and organizing that preceded them. This was also a struggle for gender equality and to end discrimination against women and girls.  They must have full representation, including in leadership roles, now and in the future.

Third, human rights should underpin the democratic process.

Bangladesh will have to grapple with decades of divisive politics that have not served its people well.

A human rights approach calls for a level playing field that enables all political parties to participate freely.  

Citizens must be able to participate in democratic governance and have a real say in decision-making.

Free and fair elections require an environment where freedom of expression, association and peaceful assembly are respected.

Fourth, this is an opportunity for inclusive, sustainable development policies that benefit everyone.

Bangladesh has one of the fastest-growing economies in the world. But economic growth has been uneven, and the benefits have been concentrated among a small segment of society, resulting in high levels of inequality and even oppression.

The 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals are a comprehensive and rights-based To-Do list.

A human rights economy calls for policies that put people and planet at the centre. That means greater investment in poverty reduction, social protection, healthcare, education, and decent work. Education should be independent, high quality, and accessible to all. And economic policies must prioritise the wellbeing of the poor, the marginalised, the vulnerable.

Diversifying the economy can help ensure growth benefits all of society. Labour laws and practices should put labour standards and the protection of workers’ rights – including the rights of workers in the informal economy – at the centre. They should also ensure non-discrimination and opportunities for all. 

A human rights approach also requires action to root out and prevent corruption, end cronyism and oligopolies, and ensure that public finances are managed transparently.

Dear students,

My final message to you is that you are not alone.

We have been inspired by the courage and sacrifice of your struggle.  This is your journey – and we are here to accompany and support you on the way.

My Office is ready to play its part, starting with the Fact-Finding Mission already underway.  

I will be discussing with the interim government areas where we can support on institution building, rebuilding civic space, accountability and healing processes, from a human rights perspective.

I look forward to hearing more from you about your concerns and challenges, and how we can best support you to play a full part in the future of your country.

Dear students, friends,

As I drove through your city today, I saw a whirlwind of dynamism and ingenuity alongside powerful graffiti with messages of hope, unity and solidarity.

Bangladesh is a rich tapestry of promise, culture, and creativity. Full of potential and ideas and justifiable demands for a better present and a brighter future.

To realise that potential, Bangladesh must draw a clear line in the sand.

Inequality, cycles of revenge and retribution, marginalization, corruption, and gross human rights violations must be consigned to the past. There must be no repetition, no going back. The present and future belong to equality, to justice.

I take inspiration from your commitment to democracy and human rights. Keep it at the forefront of your struggle and lives.

I stand together with all of you, as you look to build a more equal, more inclusive, and more just Bangladesh for all.