SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

The EU has started the "enhanced engagement" with Bangladesh due to concerns with the country's overall adherence to human and labour rights as covered by the 15 core conventions included in the GSP regulation. The unilateral trade preferences under the GSP are conditional on the adherence to and the respect of fundamental human and labour rights as specified in the 15 fundamental conventions included in the GSP regulation. The EU is concerned about a number of human rights related developments in Bangladesh which motivate the uptake of the "enhanced engagement". These developments include shrinking space for civil society actors, freedom of expression, the right to peaceful assembly, extrajudicial killings, enforced disappearances and torture, as well as discrimination and violence against ethnic and religious minorities. The EU and Bangladesh address human rights related issues in the Subgroup on Human Rights and Good Governance, which is part of the EU-Bangladesh Cooperation Agreement. The European Commission has asked the government of Bangladesh to improve the freedom of expression and the space for civil society and to better investigate cases of alleged torture, ill treatment, extra judicial killings, and enforced disappearances. With regards to labour rights, the engagement builds on the "Sustainability Compact", an initiative between the EU, the US, Canada, Bangladesh and the ILO which focusses on strengthening the freedom of association, the right to collective bargaining, and the promotion of responsible business conduct. With the "enhanced engagement" the European Commission expects further progress in aligning domestic policies with the fundamental ILO conventions. More particularly, the engagement focusses on the removal of legal obstacles to the right to establish trade unions, the elimination of anti-union discrimination, the facilitation of the trade union registration process, the strengthening of the labour inspectorate, as well as the elimination of forced and child labour. The government has already stepped up its engagement and adopted amendments to its labour law in order to strengthen the freedom of association and collective bargaining. The situation relating to the registration and functioning of the trade unions as well as the labour inspectorate still remains an area of concern. Additionally, the situation related to child labour remains concerning, despite a number of legal amendments.

Core international conventions on human rights and labour standards

Ratified

• Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide (1948)
• International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (1969)
• International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (1976)
• International Covenant on Economic Social and Cultural Rights (1976)
• Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (1981)
• Convention Against Torture and other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (1987)
• Convention on the Rights of the Child (1990)
• Convention concerning Forced or Compulsory Labour, No 29 (1930)
• Convention concerning Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organise, No 87 (1948)
• Convention concerning the Application of the Principles of the Right to Organise and to Bargain Collectively, No 98 (1949)
• Convention concerning Equal Remuneration of Men and Women Workers for Work of Equal Value, No 100 (1951)
• Convention concerning the Abolition of Forced Labour, No 105 (1957)
• Convention concerning Discrimination in Respect of Employment and Occupation, No 111 (1958)
• Convention concerning the Prohibition and Immediate Action for the Elimination of the Worst Forms of Child Labour, No 182 (1999)

Not Ratified

• Convention concerning Minimum Age for Admission to Employment, No 138 (1973)

Additional Conventions

• Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (1973)
• Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer (1987)
• Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and Their Disposal (1989)
• Convention on Biological Diversity (1992)
• The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (1992)
• Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety (2000)
• Stockholm Convention on persistent Organic Pollutants (2001)
• Kyoto Protocol to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (1998)
• United Nations Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs (1961)
• United Nations Convention on Psychotropic Substances (1971)
• United Nations Convention against Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (1988)
• United Nations Convention against Corruption (2004)

The EU's bilateral assistance amounted to €655 million for the period 2014-2020, during which the EU particularly supported projects in three focus areas. These included human capital development, food security and nutrition, and democratic governance. Furthermore, the EU was also engaged in initiatives addressing migration and forced displacement, the prevention of violent extremism and the support to civil society and human rights defenders. Other priority areas included gender equality, labour rights, sustainable consumption and production, green growth, as well as climate change mitigation.