At a Dhaka conference, speakers criticized the hypocrisy of global powers regarding human rights, claiming a double standard in the treatment of international conflicts. They highlighted the stark contrast between responses to the Ukraine war and the situation in Gaza. UN’s Gwyn Lewis emphasized inclusive development while addressing systematic failures in protecting human rights globally. The event aimed to shift the priority of development frameworks towards human dignity and equality.
At a recent geopolitical conference in Dhaka, speakers, including diplomats and researchers, sharply criticized the perceived hypocrisy of major global powers in their approach to human rights. They lamented how Western nations often apply a double standard, vocally opposing injustices in places like Ukraine while remaining silent on the suffering in Gaza, where many Palestinians have faced violence. During a session titled ‘The human cost of progress: rights as pillars of sustainable development,’ Gwyn Lewis, the UN resident coordinator in Bangladesh, emphasized that the protection of human rights is essential for inclusive development and that no one should be excluded from this vital framework.
Reflecting on her decade of experience in Gaza with the UN, Lewis pointed out the dire consequences of political failures and the hypocrisy embedded in international relations. She stated that it is crucial for Bangladesh to consider holistic development beyond mere GDP growth, advocating for poverty reduction and the respect of labor rights. This sentiment echoed through the session, which highlighted examples from across Asia, including Indonesia’s palm oil industry facing human rights scrutiny and China’s Belt and Road Initiative, which has sometimes disregarded local community rights.
Former Malaysian Minister Datuk Zuraida Kamaruddin harshly criticized U.S. sanctions against Malaysian oil companies for alleged labor issues, claiming a disconnect from ground realities. Similarly, David Morris of the Australia China Business Council noted that China’s rise has positioned it as a key player in fundings, impacting infrastructure development in Africa and South Asia. Meanwhile, Sheikh Mohammad Daniel, a director at Sonali Life Insurance, stressed the need to address pricing disparities in exports from Bangladesh to Western markets for fairer trade relations.
Amid the discussions, Irfan Yar, moderating the session, voiced concern over the selective application of human rights principles by Western countries, suggesting a global decline in accountability and commitment. Ishrat Hossain of the German Institute for Global and Area Studies raised the issue of development in Bangladesh’s Chittagong Hill Tracts, advocating for projects that align with the needs of ethnic minorities.
The conference concluded with a strong call for integrating human rights into development strategies, suggesting that this approach could foster more just and stable societies. The Bay of Bengal Conversation, inaugurated by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus, brought together diverse voices from around the world, emphasizing the urgency of addressing the fractures within modern global relations.
The article discusses a significant geopolitical conference held in Dhaka, where a range of speakers convened to critique the selective nature of global powers regarding human rights. It highlights the unequal treatment of human rights violations, focusing on contrasting reactions to conflicts in Ukraine and Palestine. The conference addressed the broader implications of these discrepancies for development policies and human rights protections, with particular focus on Asia and effectively engages with systemic issues of international politics and local governance.
In summary, the Dhaka conference served as a platform for highlighting the hypocrisy of global powers regarding human rights, showcasing the urgent need for an equitable and inclusive approach to development. As experts gathered to shed light on various injustices, they collectively underscored the importance of aligning human rights with progress, particularly in regions often overlooked by international discourse. This implication points towards a necessity for reform in global policies to embrace humanity’s collective rights across all borders.
Original Source: www.newagebd.net
