NHRC attends the 18th Annual Meeting & Biennial Conference of APF
The 18th Annual Meeting and Biennial Conference of Asia Pacific Forum (APF) was organized at Doha in Qatar from the 1st - 3rd October, 2013. A delegation of NHRC led by Justice Shri K.G. Balakrishnan, Chairperson and comprising Shri S.C. Sinha, Member and Shri B.S. Nagar, U.S. (Coord.) attended it.
The Forum Councillors approved the nomination of NHRC, India to host APF 19th (Annual Meeting) in 2014 in New Delhi. The suggestions of NHRC, India to retain the provisions relating to 'initial members' and their 'status' in Article 11.1(b) and (c) of the APF Constitution were accepted.
The Biennial Conference focused on the opportunity and challenges involved in charting a peaceful course to democracy. The participants examined a range of issues, including, "The Role of Women in Political and Democratic Reform", "The Role of NHRIs in Working with Police and Security Forces" and "The Role of NHRIs in Democracy and Good Governance".
Justice Shri K.G. Balakrishnan explained the initiatives taken by the Commission on the 'APF Action Plan on Human Rights of Women and Girls'. Chairing a Session on "The role of NHRIs in Working with Police and Security Forces", he said that all Governments and NHRIs are concerned about the issue. The NHRC, India works with and oversees the functioning of the police and security forces in multiple ways to ensure their adherence to human rights.
Speaking on the 'Role of NHRIs in Democracy and Good Governance', Shri S.C. Sinha said that they make a useful contribution to the functioning of the systems of governance through various means. In this effort, they are also helped meaningfully by NGOs. NHRC, India has a vibrant and robust relationship with NGOs and civil society. It has several Core Groups and Expert Groups to advise it on key issues. Speaking on the 'Rights of Elderly' he said that the NHRC, India has taken various measures, including, among others, constitution of a 'Core Group on Elderly People' for making suggestions to improve their conditions.
The Forum Councillors also participated in a dialogue on supporting human rights defenders with representatives from Asian NGO Network on National Human Rights Institutions (ANNI). Justice Balakrishnan said that the ANNI reports were misleading and ANNI should adopt a process to seek comments of the concerned NHRI on its draft report before publishing it. The Director, APF agreed with the suggestion and said that the APF has taken up this issue with ANNI. ANNI representative also agreed to act accordingly.
The Forum Councillors approved the nomination of NHRC, India to host APF 19th (Annual Meeting) in 2014 in New Delhi. The suggestions of NHRC, India to retain the provisions relating to 'initial members' and their 'status' in Article 11.1(b) and (c) of the APF Constitution were accepted.
The Biennial Conference focused on the opportunity and challenges involved in charting a peaceful course to democracy. The participants examined a range of issues, including, "The Role of Women in Political and Democratic Reform", "The Role of NHRIs in Working with Police and Security Forces" and "The Role of NHRIs in Democracy and Good Governance".
Justice Shri K.G. Balakrishnan explained the initiatives taken by the Commission on the 'APF Action Plan on Human Rights of Women and Girls'. Chairing a Session on "The role of NHRIs in Working with Police and Security Forces", he said that all Governments and NHRIs are concerned about the issue. The NHRC, India works with and oversees the functioning of the police and security forces in multiple ways to ensure their adherence to human rights.
Speaking on the 'Role of NHRIs in Democracy and Good Governance', Shri S.C. Sinha said that they make a useful contribution to the functioning of the systems of governance through various means. In this effort, they are also helped meaningfully by NGOs. NHRC, India has a vibrant and robust relationship with NGOs and civil society. It has several Core Groups and Expert Groups to advise it on key issues. Speaking on the 'Rights of Elderly' he said that the NHRC, India has taken various measures, including, among others, constitution of a 'Core Group on Elderly People' for making suggestions to improve their conditions.
The Forum Councillors also participated in a dialogue on supporting human rights defenders with representatives from Asian NGO Network on National Human Rights Institutions (ANNI). Justice Balakrishnan said that the ANNI reports were misleading and ANNI should adopt a process to seek comments of the concerned NHRI on its draft report before publishing it. The Director, APF agreed with the suggestion and said that the APF has taken up this issue with ANNI. ANNI representative also agreed to act accordingly.