Human Rights and Freedom in Bangladesh

http://www.humantruth.info/bangladesh_human_rights_and_freedom.html

By Vexen Crabtree 2018

#Bangladesh #equality #freedom #human_rights #politics #tolerance

Bangladesh People's Republic of Bangladesh [Country Profile Page]
Status	Independent State
Social and Moral Index	131st best
Location	Asia
Population	161.4m₁
Life Expectancy	72.38yrs (2017)₂

Bangladesh is amongst the worst places in the world at ensuring human rights and freedom, and it has severe cultural issues when it comes to tolerance and equality. Bangladesh does better than average in terms of its success in fighting anti-semitic prejudice₃ and in speed of uptake of HR treaties₄. But unfortunately Bangladesh gets most other things wrong. It does worse than average in terms of commentary in Human Rights Watch reports₅, its nominal commitment to Human Rights₆ (still high for Asia), opposing gender inequality₇, supporting personal, civil & economic freedoms₈, supporting press freedom₉, LGBT equality₁₀ and in freethought₁₁. And finally, it falls into the worst-performing 20 in the rate of gender bias (from 7 indicators)₁₂. Women's rights and safety are both poorly protected and despite already having almost the highest rate of early marriage in the world₁₃ it passed a law in 2017 removing the minimum age for marriage under "special circumstances"₁₄. Bangladesh's "Export Processing Zones" have reduced legal controls on labour abuses and are below minimum international standards, with lots of serious abuse of factory workers₁₃ in the name of creating cheap exports for multinational firms.

1. Bangladesh's Human Rights, Equality & Tolerance

#equality #gender_equality #human_rights #morals #politics #prejudice #tolerance

Compared to Asia (2020)₁₅
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank₁₅
1	Hong Kong	24.3
2	Taiwan	28.2
3	Japan	42.1
	...
31	Indonesia	111.2
32	Uzbekistan	111.3
33	Bahrain	112.9
34	Bangladesh	113.2
35	Bhutan	114.4
36	Saudi Arabia	117.6
37	Qatar	119.3
38	UAE	119.8
39	Oman	121.5
	Asia Avg	99.8
q=51.

Human Rights, Equality & Tolerance (2020)₁₅
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank₁₅
1	Sweden	9.2
2	Norway	14.7
3	Denmark	14.7
	...
139	Algeria	111.2
140	Uzbekistan	111.3
141	Bahrain	112.9
142	Bangladesh	113.2
143	Egypt	113.6
144	Bhutan	114.4
145	Libya	115.0
146	Congo, (Brazzaville)	115.2
	World Avg	87.7
q=199.

The best countries in the world at ensuring human rights, fostering equality and promoting tolerance, are Sweden, Norway and Denmark₁₆. These countries are displaying the best traits that humanity has to offer. The worst countries are The Solomon Islands, Somalia and Tuvalu₁₆.

The data sets used to calculate points for each country are statistics on commentary in Human Rights Watch reports, its nominal commitment to Human Rights, speed of uptake of HR treaties, supporting personal, civil & economic freedoms, supporting press freedom, eliminating modern slavery, opposing gender inequality, the rate of gender bias (from 7 indicators), the year from which women could participate in democracy, its success in fighting anti-semitic prejudice, LGBT equality and freethought. The regions with the best average results per country are Scandinavia, Baltic States and Europe₁₆, whereas the worst are Melanesia, Micronesia and Australasia₁₆.

For more, see:

"Which are the Best Countries for Human Rights, Equality and Tolerance?" by Vexen Crabtree (2020).

“Authorities failed to hold security forces responsible for serious human rights violations including secret detentions, enforced disappearances, torture, and extrajudicial killings. [...] Civil society groups faced pressure from both state and non-state actors, including death threats and attacks from extremist groups, and escalating harassment and surveillance by security forces. In June 2017, Islamist leaders threatened to "break every bone" of Sultana Kamal, a prominent Bangladeshi lawyer and rights activist. [...]
Indigenous groups in the Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) have for decades faced discrimination, forced displacement, assaults, evictions, and destruction of property by both Bangladeshi security forces and Bengali settlers from the mainland. In June, Bengali rioters burned 100 indigenous homes in Longadu, reportedly while army and police looked on.”
"World Report 2018" by Human Rights Watch (2018)₁₇

2. Human Rights & Tolerance Data Sets

2.1. Human Rights Watch Comments

#human_rights

Human Rights Watch Comments Higher is better₅
Pos.		2017 Score₅
1	UK	9
2	France	9
3	Germany	9
	...
92	Rwanda	-6
93	Uzbekistan	-6
94	Iraq	-6
95	Bangladesh	-6
96	Bosnia & Herzegovina	-6
97	Jordan	-6
98	Kazakhstan	-6
99	Cuba	-6
	Asia Avg	-5.0
	World Avg	-1.9
q=123.

Human Rights Watch comments concentrate mostly on negative issues, however, they also make positive comments for those countries that engage in human rights defence around the world, or who make improvements at home. By adding up positive and negative comments (including double-points for negatives that involve large scales and crimes against humanity), the Social and Moral Index turns HRW commentary into quantified values. Some countries may be unfairly penalized because HRW have not examined them, and, some countries "get away" with abuses if they manage to hide it, or if it goes unnoticed - a negative point has been given for those countries in which HRW specifically state that access to investigators has been barred. The points were limited to a minimum of -10 because there are some points at which things are so bad, with abuses affecting so many, it is difficult to be more specific about the depths of the issues.

2.2. Nominal Commitment to HR

#human_rights

Nominal Commitment to HR Higher is better₆
Pos.		2009 Treaties₆
1	Argentina	24
2	Chile	23
3	Costa Rica	23
	...
107	Maldives	15
108	Andorra	15
109	Cape Verde	15
110	Bangladesh	15
111	Mozambique	15
112	Dominican Rep.	14
113	Kenya	14
114	Japan	14
	Asia Avg	12.7
	World Avg	15.1
q=194.

There are many international agreements on human rights, and, many mechanisms by which countries can be brought to account for their actions. Together, these have been the biggest historical movement in the fight against oppression and inhumanity. Or, putting it another way: these are rejected mostly by those who wish to oppress inhumanely. None of them are perfect and many people object to various components and wordings, but, no-one has come up with, and enforced, better methods of controlling the occasional desires that states and peoples have of causing angst for other states and peoples in a violent, unjust or inhumane way. Points are awarded for the number of human rights agreements ratified by the country, plus the acceptance of the petition mechanisms for disputes. The maximum possible score in 2009 was 24.

2.3. HR Treaties Lag

#human_rights #international_law #micronesia #politics #small_islands

HR Treaties Lag Lower is better₄
Pos.		2019 Avg Yrs/Treaty₄
1	Ecuador	2.15
2	Uruguay	2.25
3	Tunisia	3.65
	...
76	Japan	9.16
77	Bosnia & Herzegovina	9.17
78	India	9.18
79	Bangladesh	9.18
80	Sierra Leone	9.33
81	China	9.36
82	Lesotho	9.44
83	Gabon	9.47
	Asia Avg	10.97
	World Avg	10.02
q=195.

Human Rights (HR) Treaties Lag is a count of how long it took each country to sign each of 11 key HR treaties. From the date of the first signatory of each treaty, all other countries have one point added to their score for each day they delayed in signing. Results are presented as average time in years to sign each one. The lower a country's score, the more enthusiastically it has taken on international Human Rights Treaties - which are, of course, minimal standards of good governance. The slowest are the countries of Micronesia, Melanesia, Australasia and Polynesia all lagged by over 12 years per treaty. The best regions are The Americas, Scandinavia and the Mediterranean.

For more, see:

"Which are the Best Countries for Human Rights, Equality and Tolerance?" by Vexen Crabtree (2020).

2.4. Personal, Civil & Economic Freedom

#freedom #politics

Personal, Civil & Economic Freedom Lower is better₈
Pos.		2014 Rank₈
1	Hong Kong	1
2	Switzerland	2
3	New Zealand	3
	...
134	Swaziland	134
135	Gabon	135
136	Togo	136
137	Bangladesh	137
138	Belize	138
139	Congo, (Brazzaville)	139
140	Nigeria	140
141	China	141
	Asia Avg	94.6
	World Avg	79.7
q=159.

The Human Freedom Index published by the Fraser Institute is...

“... a broad measure of human freedom, understood as the absence of coercive constraint. It uses 79 distinct indicators of personal and economic freedom in the following areas: Rule of Law, Security and Safety, Movement, Religion, Association, Assembly, and Civil Society, Expression, Relationships, Size of Government, Legal System and Property Rights, Access to Sound Money, Freedom to Trade Internationally, Regulation of Credit, Labor, and Business. [...]
The highest levels of freedom are in Western Europe, Northern Europe, and North America (Canada and the United States. The lowest levels are in the Middle East and North Africa, South Asia, and sub-Saharan Africa. [...]
Countries in the top quartile of freedom enjoy a significant higher per capita income ($37,147) [compared with] the least-free quartile [at] $8,700). The HFI finds a strong correlation between human freedom and democracy.”
"The Human Freedom Index" by The Fraser Institute (2016)₁₈

2.5. Press Freedom

#democracy #freedom #Freedom_of_Speech #Good_Governance #mass_media #politics #UK

Press Freedom Lower is better₉
Pos.		2013₉
1	Finland	638
2	Netherlands	648
3	Norway	652
	...
140	Oman	4151
141	Congo, DR	4166
142	Cambodia	4181
143	Bangladesh	4201
144	Malaysia	4273
145	Palestine	4309
146	Philippines	4311
147	Russia	4342
	Asia Avg	4378
	World Avg	3249
q=178.

The freedom to investigate, publish information, and have access to others' opinion is a fundamental part of today's information-driven world, and is linked with Freedom of Speech and Good Governance. Scores on the Press Freedom Index are calculated according to indicators including pluralism - the degree to which opinions are represented in the media, media independence of authorities, self-censorship, legislation, transparency and the infrastructure that supports news and information, and, the level of violence against journalists which includes lengths of imprisonments. The index "does not take direct account of the kind of political system but it is clear that democracies provide better protection for the freedom to produce and circulate accurate news and information than countries where human rights are flouted". The rankings are used as one of the datasets of the Social and Moral Development Index₁₉

It must be noted that press freedom is not an indicator of press quality and the press itself can be abusive; the UK suffers in particular from a popular brand of nasty reporting that infuses several of its newspapers who are particularly prone to running destructive and often untrue campaigns against victims. The Press Freedom Index notes that "the index should in no way be taken as an indicator of the quality of the media in the countries concerned".

Throughout the country in 2017, "freedom of expression was severely limited as authorities used overly broad laws to stifle dissent or perceived criticism"₁₇.

2.6. Slavery

#burundi #eritrea #france #human_rights #indonesia #slavery

Slavery Lower is better₂₀
Pos.		2018 % Victims₂₀
1	Japan	0.03
2	Canada	0.05
3	Taiwan	0.05
	...
73	Estonia	0.36
74	Mali	0.36
75	Hungary	0.37
76	Bangladesh	0.37
77	Cuba	0.38
78	Israel	0.39
79	Latvia	0.39
80	Dominican Rep.	0.40
	Asia Avg	0.79
	World Avg	0.65
q=167.

The taking of slaves has been an unwholesome feature of Human cultures since prehistory₂₁. Private households and national endeavours have frequently been augmented with the use of slaves. The Egyptian and Roman empires both thrived on them for both purposes. Aside from labourers they are often abused sexually by their owners and their owners' friends₂₂. The era of colonialism and the beginnings of globalisation changed nothing: the imprisonment and forced movements of labour continued to destroy many lives except that new justifications were invented based on Christian doctrine and the effort to convert non-Christians. By 1786 over 12 million slaves had been extracted from Africa and sent to colonial labour camps, with a truly atrocious condition of life₂₃. But they were not the only ones to blame; in Africa internal nations such as the Asantes sold and bought tens of thousands of slaves₂₄.

The abolition of the slave trade was a long and slow process. Until a relatively modern time, even philosophers, religious leaders and those concerned with ethics justified, or ignored, the problem of slavery₂₅. The first abolitionists were always the slaves themselves. Their protests and rebellions caused the industry to become too expensive to continue. After that, it was the economic costs of maintain slave colonies that led the British to reject and then oppose the slave trade globally. Finally, the enlightenment-era thinkers of France encouraged moral and ethical thinking including the declaration of the inherent value of human life and human dignity₂₆. A long-overdue wave of compassionate and conscientious movements swept across the West, eliminating public support for slavery, until the industries and churches that supported it had no choice but to back down.

'Modern slavery' includes forced labour (often of the under-age), debt bondage (especially generational), sexual slavery, chattel slavery and other forms of abuse, some of which can be surprisingly difficult to detect, but often target those fleeing from warzones and the vulnerable.₂₇. Some industries (diamond, clothing, coal) from some countries (Burundi₂₈, Eritrea₂₈, Indonesia₂₉) are a particular concern. The Walk Free Foundation, say that in 2016, 40.3 million people were living in modern slavery₃₀.

For more, see:

"The Historical Slave Trade and Modern Slavery" by Vexen Crabtree (2018).

"Export Processing Zones" in Bangladesh are not up to minimum international standards, and workers are attacked and threatened freely by factory officials, and in particular the Special Powers Act of 1974 is used to subjugate workers. "In response to protests in December 2016 by garment workers seeking higher wages, factory owners dismissed over 1,500 workers and authorities arrested 38 union leaders and workers on unsubstantiated criminal charges".₃₁

3. Gender Equality Data Sets

Bangladesh is an unequal country, with male rights dominating those of women. Islamic beliefs are squarely to blame for this situation.

See:

"Religion Versus Womankind" by Vexen Crabtree (2007)
"Islam and Women" by Vexen Crabtree (2011)

Bangladesh has almost the highest rate of early marriage in the world₁₃ and made this even worse in 2017 when a law was passed removing the minimum age for marriage under "special circumstances"₁₄. Women's rights and safety are both poorly protected₁₃.

3.1. Gender Inequality

#gender #gender_equality #human_rights #misogyny #women

Gender Inequality Lower is better₇
Pos.		2015₇
1	Switzerland	0.04
2	Denmark	0.04
3	Netherlands	0.04
	...
116	Ethiopia	0.50
117	Guyana	0.51
118	Iran	0.51
119	Bangladesh	0.52
120	Senegal	0.52
121	Uganda	0.52
122	Sao Tome & Principe	0.52
123	Iraq	0.53
	Asia Avg	0.36
	World Avg	0.36
q=159.

The UN Human Development Reports include statistics on gender equality which take into account things like maternal mortality, access to political power (seats in parliament) and differences between male and female education rates. Gender inequality is not a necessary part of early human development. Although a separation of roles is almost universal due to different strengths between the genders, this does not have to mean that women are subdued, and, such patriarchalism is not universal in ancient history. Those cultures and peoples who shed, or never developed, the idea that mankind ought to dominate womankind, are better cultures and peoples than those who, even today, cling violently to those mores.

For more, see:

"Gender Equality" by Vexen Crabtree (2023).

3.2. Gender Biases

#gender #gender_equality #prejudice #women

Gender Biases Lower is better₁₂
Pos.		2022 %₁₂
1	Sweden	31.8₃₂
2	New Zealand	34.4₃₃
3	Australia	37.0₃₃
	...
75	India	99.1₃₂
76	Rwanda	99.1₃₂
77	Myanmar (Burma)	99.4₃₃
78	Bangladesh	99.4₃₃
79	Mali	99.5₃₄
80	Philippines	99.5₃₃
81	Nigeria	99.5₃₃
82	Malaysia	99.5₃₃
	Asia Avg	94.24
	World Avg	83.93
q=88.

The Gender Social Norms Index (GSNI) looks at gender biases across seven criteria; the % given here is for the total people who are biased across any of those criteria. By subtracting the value from 100%, you can see that those who do well on this index, you are seeing a count of those who do not appear to be biased against women in any of the criteria, and so, doing well on this index is a very positive sign for any country.

The data was included in UN (2022) with full results in Annex table AS6.7.1; their data stems for ranges between 2005 and 2022, depending on the country in question.

3.3. Year Women Can Vote

#christianity #gender_equality #human_rights #politics #women

Year Women Can Vote Lower is better
Pos.		0 Year
1	New Zealand	1893
2	Australia	1902
3	Finland	1906
	...
157	Congo, DR	1970
158	Yemen	1970
159	Switzerland	1971
160	Bangladesh	1972
161	Bahrain	1973
162	San Marino	1973
163	Andorra	1973
164	Jordan	1974
	Asia Avg	1907
	World Avg	1930
q=189.

Women now have equal rights in the vast majority of countries across the world. Although academic literature oftens talks of when a country "grants women the right to vote", this enforces a backwards way of thinking. Women always had the right to vote, however, they were frequently denied that right. The opposition to women's ability to vote in equality with man was most consistently and powerfully opposed by the Catholic Church, other Christian organisations, Islamic authorities and some other religious and secular traditionalists.

For more, see:

"Gender Equality" by Vexen Crabtree (2023).

4. Prejudice Data Sets

4.1. Anti-Semite Opinions

#antisemitism #christianity #germany #indonesia #israel #jordan #judaism #laos #morocco #netherlands #pakistan #philippines #religion #religious_violence #saudi_arabia #spain #sweden #turkey #UK #vietnam

Anti-Semite Opinions Lower is better₃
Pos.		2014 %₃
1	Laos	0
2	Philippines	3
3	Sweden	4
	...
48	Bolivia	30
49	Georgia	32
50	Kazakhstan	32
51	Bangladesh	32
52	Bosnia & Herzegovina	32
53	Costa Rica	32
54	Uruguay	33
55	Croatia	33
	Asia Avg	48.2
	World Avg	36.8
q=101.

Anti-Semitism is the world given to irrational racism against Jews. It is not the same as anti-Judaism (involving arguments against the religion) nor the same as anti-Zionism (arguments against Israel). In history, influential Christian theologians concocted the arguments against Jews that led, very early on, to widespread Christian action against Jews₃₅_,₃₆_,₃₇_,₃₈. As Christianity rose to power in the West and presided over the Dark Ages, there were widespread violent outbursts against Jews of the most persistent and horrible kind. The Crusades were frequently aimed at them and the feared Spanish Inquisition paid Jews particular attention. The horror of the holocaust instigated by German Nazis in the 1940s was followed (finally) by the era of European human rights and a movement against racism in general.

The places that are the least anti-Semitical are a few countries of south-east Asia (Laos, the Philippines and Vietnam) and some of the secular liberal democracies of Europe (Sweden, the Netherlands and the UK). The worst countries for antisemitism are Islamic states of the Middle East₃₉, which are undergoing their own Dark Age. Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Morocco, Indonesia, Pakistan and Turkey see the most oppressive and violent actions towards Jews₄₀_,₄₁. Jews in Muslim countries face a host of restrictions and "ceaseless humiliation and regular pogroms"₄₂. In 2004 the European Union Monitoring Center on Racism and Xenophobia reported on violent anti-Jew crimes in the EU and found that that largest group of perpetrators were young Muslim males₄₃.

For more, see:

"Anti-Semitism" by Vexen Crabtree (2017).

4.2. LGBT Equality

#equality #homosexuality #human_rights #intolerance #sexuality #tolerance

LGBT Equality Higher is better₁₀
Pos.		2017 Score₁₀
1	Netherlands	103
2	Belgium	90
3	Sweden	86
	...
148	Kenya	-14
149	Singapore	-15
150	Zambia	-15
151	Bangladesh	-17
152	Tanzania	-17
153	Iran	-19
154	Malaysia	-19
155	Gambia	-19
	Asia Avg	-02.1
	World Avg	12.6
q=196.

Discrimination against Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) folk is rife across the world. Legal restrictions co-exist alongside social stigmatisation and physical violence₄₄. LGBT tolerance and equal rights have been fought for country-by-country across the world, often against tightly entrenched cultural and religious opposition. Adult consensual sexual activity is a Human Right, protected by privacy laws₄₅. Despite this, homosexual activity is outlawed in around 80 countries₄₄. The Social & Moral LGBT Equality Index was created to compare countries and regions, granting points to each country for a variety of factors including how long gay sex has been criminalized and the extent of LGBT legal rights. Graded negative points are given for criminality of homosexuality, unequal ages of consent, legal punishments and for not signing international accords on LGBT tolerance. The signs in many developed countries are positive, and things are gradually improving. Europe is by far the least prejudiced region (Scandinavia in particular being exemplary). The Middle East and then Africa are the least morally developed, where cultural bias goes hand-in-hand with state intolerance, all too often including physical violence.

For more, see:

"LGBT Rights Across the World: Which are the Best and Worst Countries?" by Vexen Crabtree (2017).

4.3. Freedom of Thought

#europe #freedom_of_belief #freethought #human_rights #netherlands #religion #religious_tolerance #secularism #the_enlightenment

Freedom of Thought Lower is better₁₁
Pos.		2021₁₁
1	Belgium	1.0
2	Netherlands	1.0
3	Taiwan	1.0
	...
172	Comoros	4.3
173	Eritrea	4.5
174	Egypt	4.5
175	Bangladesh	4.5
176	Bahrain	4.5
177	China	4.5
178	Qatar	4.5
179	Indonesia	4.5
	Asia Avg	3.7
	World Avg	3.0
q=196.

Freedom of Religion and Freedom of Belief are upheld in Article 18 the United Nation's Universal Declaration of Human Rights₄₆. It affirms that it is a basic human right that all people are free to change their beliefs and religion as they wish₄₇. No countries voted against this (although eight abstained). This right was first recognized clearly in the policies of religious toleration of the Netherlands and elsewhere in Europe in the post-enlightenment era₄₈ of the 19th century. In democratic countries, freedom of belief and religion is now taken for granted₄₉. In 2016 a study found that over 180 countries in the world had come to guarantee freedom of religion and belief₅₀. The best countries at doing so are Taiwan, Belgium and The Netherlands₁₁_,₅₁ and the worst: Afghanistan, N. Korea, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia₁₁_,₅₂.

Long-term studies have shown that religious violence and persecution both decrease in cultures where religious freedom is guaranteed₅₃. Despite this, there still are many who are strongly against freedom of belief₄₇, including entire cultures and many individual communities of religious believers. Their alternative is that you are not free to believe what you want and they often state that you cannot change religion without being punished (often including the death penalty): this is bemoaned as one of the most dangerous elements of religion₅₄ and "the denial of religious freedoms is inevitably intertwined with the denial of other freedoms"₅₅ and the solution is, everywhere, to allow religious freedom and the freedom of belief.

For more, see:

"Freethought - Freedom of Belief and Freedom of Religion" by Vexen Crabtree (2022).