Sigma Huda
Encyclopedia
Sigma Huda is a Bangladeshi lawyer
and wife of former government minister and barrister Nazmul Huda. Since 2004, she has served as the United Nations' Special Rapporteur on human trafficking
.
In 2007, Huda was brought before a Bangladesh court on bribery charges filed by the Anti-Corruption Commission, whereupon she was sentenced to three years imprisonment as an accomplice to a bribe in the amount of Taka 2.40 crore (approximately US$400,000) for which her husband was convicted of abuse of power and corruption. As a result of the conviction, Huda was prevented from leaving Bangladesh despite apparently enjoying diplomatic privileges as a UN rights expert which prevent her arrest or detention.
The UN Special Rapporteur
on the independence of the judges and lawyers issued a statement on September 2, 2007 expressing concern that Ms. Huda was not given a fair trial. He said it received reports indicating that the right to legal representation and the independence of the court were severely affected during her trial. "Defense lawyers felt pressured, they had no opportunity to visit her in prison and could only meet with her at the end of the hearings. They also had difficulties accessing the case files and other relevant information, thus compromising their ability to ensure an adequate defence."
Lawyer
A lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law; as an attorney, counsel or solicitor; a person who is practicing law." Law is the system of rules of conduct established by the sovereign government of a society to correct wrongs, maintain the stability of political...
and wife of former government minister and barrister Nazmul Huda. Since 2004, she has served as the United Nations' Special Rapporteur on human trafficking
Human trafficking
Human trafficking is the illegal trade of human beings for the purposes of reproductive slavery, commercial sexual exploitation, forced labor, or a modern-day form of slavery...
.
In 2007, Huda was brought before a Bangladesh court on bribery charges filed by the Anti-Corruption Commission, whereupon she was sentenced to three years imprisonment as an accomplice to a bribe in the amount of Taka 2.40 crore (approximately US$400,000) for which her husband was convicted of abuse of power and corruption. As a result of the conviction, Huda was prevented from leaving Bangladesh despite apparently enjoying diplomatic privileges as a UN rights expert which prevent her arrest or detention.
The UN Special Rapporteur
Special Rapporteur
Special Rapporteur is a title given to individuals working on behalf of the United Nations within the scope of "Special Procedures" mechanisms who bear a specific mandate from the United Nations Human Rights Council....
on the independence of the judges and lawyers issued a statement on September 2, 2007 expressing concern that Ms. Huda was not given a fair trial. He said it received reports indicating that the right to legal representation and the independence of the court were severely affected during her trial. "Defense lawyers felt pressured, they had no opportunity to visit her in prison and could only meet with her at the end of the hearings. They also had difficulties accessing the case files and other relevant information, thus compromising their ability to ensure an adequate defence."