NHRC hosts Sub-Regional Workshop on National Inquiries
New Delhi October 29, 2007 A four-day Sub-Regional Workshop on National Inquiries hosted by the National Human Rights Commission of India began in New Delhi today. The Workshop organized by the Asia Pacific Forum of National Human Rights Institutions in collaboration with the Raoul Wallenberg Institute (RWI) of Human Rights and Humanitarian Law, University of Lund, Sweden, aims to provide the representatives with a step-by-step understanding of the process of conducting National Inquiries.
In his inaugural address at the Workshop, Justice Shri S. Rajendra Babu, Chairperson, NHRC highlighted the challenges faced by the Asia Pacific Region. Referring to the progress in the Region on Millennium Development Goals, he said though the Region was forging ahead on many fronts, yet uneven progress between and within countries exists. He said that the issues of child mortality, malnutrition, improving maternal health, providing safe drinking water and sanitation are major challenges. The Chairperson brought to the notice of the participants the rise in income inequality and said that the benefits of rapid economic and social development need to be distributed equally.
Referring to the role of National Human Rights Institutions (NHRIs), he said that they act as a bridge between the Government and the civil society. On the experience of the NHRC, India, the Chairperson said that the Commission's strategy of National Inquiries has been successful. He touched on the issues of Right to food, torture, custodial violence, rights of mentally ill, poverty and cultural rights.
Justice Shri S. Rajendra Babu expressed the hope that the four-day deliberations would lead to sharing of information and exchange of best practices among NHRIs and will equip them to confront serious human rights challenges faced by the region.
Shri R.K. Bhargava, Secretary General, NHRC, gave the welcome address and Prof Brian Burdekin from Raoul Wallenberg Institute addressed the participants.
The four-day workshop will cover a number of important topics like-National Inquiry on the Right to Food presented by NHRC India, National Inquiry on Human Rights and Mental illness presented by Australian Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission (HREOC), National Inquiry into Accessible Public Land Transport for People with Disabilities, presented by New Zealand Human Rights Commission, National Inquiry on Torture presented by National Human Rights Commission of Mangolia, National Inquiry into Homeless Children presented by HREOC, examples of National Inquiries in other regions sharing the experiences and challenges from Africa and National Inquiry on the Right to Health presented by NHRC, India.
The Workshop is being attended by the representatives of NHRIs from Afghanistan, Maldives, Cambodia, Nepal, Pakistan, Palestine, Sri Lanka, New Zealand, RWI and APF besides the hosts NHRC, India.
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In his inaugural address at the Workshop, Justice Shri S. Rajendra Babu, Chairperson, NHRC highlighted the challenges faced by the Asia Pacific Region. Referring to the progress in the Region on Millennium Development Goals, he said though the Region was forging ahead on many fronts, yet uneven progress between and within countries exists. He said that the issues of child mortality, malnutrition, improving maternal health, providing safe drinking water and sanitation are major challenges. The Chairperson brought to the notice of the participants the rise in income inequality and said that the benefits of rapid economic and social development need to be distributed equally.
Referring to the role of National Human Rights Institutions (NHRIs), he said that they act as a bridge between the Government and the civil society. On the experience of the NHRC, India, the Chairperson said that the Commission's strategy of National Inquiries has been successful. He touched on the issues of Right to food, torture, custodial violence, rights of mentally ill, poverty and cultural rights.
Justice Shri S. Rajendra Babu expressed the hope that the four-day deliberations would lead to sharing of information and exchange of best practices among NHRIs and will equip them to confront serious human rights challenges faced by the region.
Shri R.K. Bhargava, Secretary General, NHRC, gave the welcome address and Prof Brian Burdekin from Raoul Wallenberg Institute addressed the participants.
The four-day workshop will cover a number of important topics like-National Inquiry on the Right to Food presented by NHRC India, National Inquiry on Human Rights and Mental illness presented by Australian Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission (HREOC), National Inquiry into Accessible Public Land Transport for People with Disabilities, presented by New Zealand Human Rights Commission, National Inquiry on Torture presented by National Human Rights Commission of Mangolia, National Inquiry into Homeless Children presented by HREOC, examples of National Inquiries in other regions sharing the experiences and challenges from Africa and National Inquiry on the Right to Health presented by NHRC, India.
The Workshop is being attended by the representatives of NHRIs from Afghanistan, Maldives, Cambodia, Nepal, Pakistan, Palestine, Sri Lanka, New Zealand, RWI and APF besides the hosts NHRC, India.
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