UN chief urges Bangladesh to respect Sigma Huda

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United Nations (UN) Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has called on Bangladesh to respect the 'full range of human rights' including the right to a fair trial and rights relating to detention conditions during the trial of UN independent expert Sigma Huda who is facing a criminal trial on corruption charges.
Sigma Huda was appointed special rapporteur on trafficking in persons in April 2004, reports UNB.
The 1946 Convention on the Privileges and Immunities of the UN states that special rapporteurs "enjoy the privileges and immunities necessary for the independent exercise of their functions as experts on mission", Ban said in a statement issued by his spokesperson Tuesday.
The Convention stipulates that states must alert the Secretary-General if they wish to initiate legal proceedings against these experts. "Regrettably, the Government of Bangladesh did not do so in this case", Ban said.
After requesting and receiving information from Bangladesh on the nature of the charges brought against Sigma Huda and their linkages to her functions as special rapporteur, the Secretary General has concluded that she was not being tried on charges related to her work as a UN independent expert.
Therefore, "no immunity under the Convention is applicable in the present case", he said.
Ban noted the UN's firm commitment to aid countries in thwarting corruption, but urged the Government to act consistently with its international human rights obligations in conducting the trial against Sigma.