Conference of NHRIs of South Asian Countries
New Delhi, 17th April, 2009
The National Human Rights Institutions of South Asian countries today passed a Resolution after a two day conference in New Delhi and agreed to work towards National Capacity Building through sharing of experience, information and best practices on human rights. They also agreed to take steps to promote human rights awareness by holding conferences of NHRIs atleast once in two years in addition to exchanges of visits, training programmes and bilateral or regional cooperation between these Institutions. The Conference on 'Human Rights Awareness and National Capacity Building' was organized by the National Human Rights Commission of India and attended by Chairpersons, Members and representatives of six National Human Rights Institutions from Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Maldives, Nepal, Sri Lanka and India.
The Conference agreed that respective Governments will be appealed to support and provide necessary wherewithal to NHRIs to ensure that they become fully compliant with 'Paris Principles' which includes administrative and financial autonomy.
During the two days of deliberations spread in four sessions, the issues of legal framework for promotion and protection of human rights, institutional arrangements and measures undertaken for promotion and protection of human rights, building human rights awareness and international cooperation were discussed.
Earlier, inaugurating the conference on 16th April, 2009, the Chief Justice of India, Mr. Justice K.G. Balakrishnan said, public expectations from NHRIs have increased with awareness about Constitutional Rights. He said, promotion of human rights faces considerable challenges in the South Asian Region given the frequent terrorist attacks, communal violence and pervasive exploitation on account of caste and gender differences. Justice Balakrishnan said, despite most of the South Asian countries having established human rights institutions, there are persistent criticisms about their lack of independence, initiatives and effective powers. He said, in real sense the realization of civil and political rights is impossible without enjoyment of economic and social rights. He said, there is a special responsibility upon human right bodies to actively confront social evils such as immoral trafficking and forced prostitution. Institutions in South Asia need to be proactive in responding to instances of exploitation by private parties also. He highlighted the importance of educational institutions and non-governmental organizations in promotion of human rights.
Addressing the gathering, the NHRC of India Chairperson, Mr. Justice S. Rajendra Babu said, it is important for a State committed to human rights to establish a national infrastructure including relevant institutions which can promote and protect human rights. He also advocated the need for an effective mechanism to keep a check on the activities of the existing human rights institutions to ensure their accountability. Justice Rajendra Babu said, NHRIs have now evolved as a significant player on both the national and international fronts instead of just acting as liaison points for the United Nations. He said, the Paris conference Principles require that the National Human Rights Institutions be given a broad mandate to enforce human rights and enjoy absolute independence from Governments.
*****
Conference of NHRIs of South Asian Countries on "Human Rights Awareness and National Capacity Building" at New Delhi on 16 - 18, April, 2009.
Resolution
The first Conference of National Human Rights Institutions of South Asian Countries on "Human Rights Awareness and National Capacity Building", organized by the National Human Rights Commission of India, was held in New Delhi on 16 - 18 April, 2009. The following Commissions participated in the Conference:
1. Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission
2. National Human Rights Commission, Bangladesh
3. Human Rights Commission of the Maldives
4. National Human Rights Commission, Nepal
5. Sri Lanka Human Rights Commission and
6. National Human Rights Commission of India.
Reaffirming the commitment to protect and promote human rights as enshrined in domestic laws and International Human Rights Conventions;
Noting the legal framework, institutional arrangements and measures undertaken by the participating countries in the region for promotion and protection of human rights;
Recognizing the need for further national capacity building of NHRIs to address human rights challenges faced by the countries in the region;
Recognizing the need for further sustained efforts to build human rights awareness;
Emphasizing the need for cooperation between NHRIs of South Asian countries on issues of mutual interest;
Welcoming the initiative taken by the National Human Rights Commission of India to hold the first Conference of NHRIs of South Asian Countries on "Human Rights Awareness and National Capacity Building" in New Delhi on 16 - 18 April, 2009;
Reiterating the need for closer mutual cooperation between NHRIs on capacity building and promotion of human rights awareness;
The participating NHRIs hereby agree :
a) To work towards national capacity building through sharing of experience, information and best practices on human rights;
b) To take steps to promote human rights awareness; and
c) Towards this end, hold conferences at least once in two years, apart from exchanges of visits, training programmes and bilateral or regional cooperation between the NHRIs.
d) To work together to identify and cooperate on capacity building for dealing with human rights issues like human rights awareness, human trafficking and migrant labour.
e) To work collectively at UN forums, including the Human Rights Council, for an independent status for NHRIs, distinct from NGOs.
f) To appeal to the respective Governments to support and provide necessary wherewithal to NHRIs to ensure that they become fully compliant with Paris Principles, which includes administrative and financial autonomy. NHRIs have an advocacy role in this regard.
********
The National Human Rights Institutions of South Asian countries today passed a Resolution after a two day conference in New Delhi and agreed to work towards National Capacity Building through sharing of experience, information and best practices on human rights. They also agreed to take steps to promote human rights awareness by holding conferences of NHRIs atleast once in two years in addition to exchanges of visits, training programmes and bilateral or regional cooperation between these Institutions. The Conference on 'Human Rights Awareness and National Capacity Building' was organized by the National Human Rights Commission of India and attended by Chairpersons, Members and representatives of six National Human Rights Institutions from Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Maldives, Nepal, Sri Lanka and India.
The Conference agreed that respective Governments will be appealed to support and provide necessary wherewithal to NHRIs to ensure that they become fully compliant with 'Paris Principles' which includes administrative and financial autonomy.
During the two days of deliberations spread in four sessions, the issues of legal framework for promotion and protection of human rights, institutional arrangements and measures undertaken for promotion and protection of human rights, building human rights awareness and international cooperation were discussed.
Earlier, inaugurating the conference on 16th April, 2009, the Chief Justice of India, Mr. Justice K.G. Balakrishnan said, public expectations from NHRIs have increased with awareness about Constitutional Rights. He said, promotion of human rights faces considerable challenges in the South Asian Region given the frequent terrorist attacks, communal violence and pervasive exploitation on account of caste and gender differences. Justice Balakrishnan said, despite most of the South Asian countries having established human rights institutions, there are persistent criticisms about their lack of independence, initiatives and effective powers. He said, in real sense the realization of civil and political rights is impossible without enjoyment of economic and social rights. He said, there is a special responsibility upon human right bodies to actively confront social evils such as immoral trafficking and forced prostitution. Institutions in South Asia need to be proactive in responding to instances of exploitation by private parties also. He highlighted the importance of educational institutions and non-governmental organizations in promotion of human rights.
Addressing the gathering, the NHRC of India Chairperson, Mr. Justice S. Rajendra Babu said, it is important for a State committed to human rights to establish a national infrastructure including relevant institutions which can promote and protect human rights. He also advocated the need for an effective mechanism to keep a check on the activities of the existing human rights institutions to ensure their accountability. Justice Rajendra Babu said, NHRIs have now evolved as a significant player on both the national and international fronts instead of just acting as liaison points for the United Nations. He said, the Paris conference Principles require that the National Human Rights Institutions be given a broad mandate to enforce human rights and enjoy absolute independence from Governments.
*****
Conference of NHRIs of South Asian Countries on "Human Rights Awareness and National Capacity Building" at New Delhi on 16 - 18, April, 2009.
Resolution
The first Conference of National Human Rights Institutions of South Asian Countries on "Human Rights Awareness and National Capacity Building", organized by the National Human Rights Commission of India, was held in New Delhi on 16 - 18 April, 2009. The following Commissions participated in the Conference:
1. Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission
2. National Human Rights Commission, Bangladesh
3. Human Rights Commission of the Maldives
4. National Human Rights Commission, Nepal
5. Sri Lanka Human Rights Commission and
6. National Human Rights Commission of India.
Reaffirming the commitment to protect and promote human rights as enshrined in domestic laws and International Human Rights Conventions;
Noting the legal framework, institutional arrangements and measures undertaken by the participating countries in the region for promotion and protection of human rights;
Recognizing the need for further national capacity building of NHRIs to address human rights challenges faced by the countries in the region;
Recognizing the need for further sustained efforts to build human rights awareness;
Emphasizing the need for cooperation between NHRIs of South Asian countries on issues of mutual interest;
Welcoming the initiative taken by the National Human Rights Commission of India to hold the first Conference of NHRIs of South Asian Countries on "Human Rights Awareness and National Capacity Building" in New Delhi on 16 - 18 April, 2009;
Reiterating the need for closer mutual cooperation between NHRIs on capacity building and promotion of human rights awareness;
The participating NHRIs hereby agree :
a) To work towards national capacity building through sharing of experience, information and best practices on human rights;
b) To take steps to promote human rights awareness; and
c) Towards this end, hold conferences at least once in two years, apart from exchanges of visits, training programmes and bilateral or regional cooperation between the NHRIs.
d) To work together to identify and cooperate on capacity building for dealing with human rights issues like human rights awareness, human trafficking and migrant labour.
e) To work collectively at UN forums, including the Human Rights Council, for an independent status for NHRIs, distinct from NGOs.
f) To appeal to the respective Governments to support and provide necessary wherewithal to NHRIs to ensure that they become fully compliant with Paris Principles, which includes administrative and financial autonomy. NHRIs have an advocacy role in this regard.
********