NHRC India at the 12th Annual Meeting of the Asia Pacific Forum (APF)
The 12th Annual Meeting of the Asia Pacific Forum (APF) of National Human Rights Institutions (NRIs) was held in Sydney, Australia from September 24 to 27, 2007. The meeting was hosted by the Australian Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission. A delegation from NHRC, India led by Chairperson, Justice Shri S. Rajendra Babu, attended the four-day meeting. The delegation comprised Shri R. K. Bhargava, Secretary General and Shri Y.S.R. Murthy, Director, Research.
A key theme of the 12th APF was co-operation and collaboration for the protection and promotion of human rights. On the first day of the meeting i.e. September 24, 2007 a meeting of the Advisory Council of Jurists (ACJ) was held. It took up the issue of human rights dimensions of the Right to Environment.
As Shri Fali Nariman, Member of ACJ from India could not attend the meeting, NHRC Chairperson, Justice Shri S. Rajendra Babu attended the meeting. A separate meeting of Senior Executive Officers (SEO) on the same day discussed substantive, procedural and other mechanisms for improving the co-ordination for greater effectiveness of SEO network. The Secretary General, NHRC Shri R. K. Bhargava made a presentation on human rights education at this meeting. The participants appreciated the far-reaching initiatives taken by NHRC India.
On the 2nd day, a meeting of the APF Forum Councillors was held. Mr. John von Doussa QC, President of the Australian Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission, was elected as the Chairperson of the Forum. The meeting approved the draft Rules of Procedure for (i) meetings of Forum Councillors; (ii) the Forum's Annual General Meeting and (iii) the Forum's Annual Conference, incorporating amendments that increased the proposed timeframes for submission of documents for Forum Councillors' meetings.
The Forum Councillors approved the application for Associate Membership from the Human Rights Commission of the Maldives. The meeting also decided to accept Jordan National Centre for Human Rights and the Provedoria for Human Rights and Justice of Timor-Leste, as Full Members of the Forum. Following this APF now comprises 14 full member institutions and 3 associate member institutions.
The Forum Councillors approved a proposal from the Australian Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission to make a reference to the ACJ on the theme of 'Human Rights, Corporate Accountability and Government Responsibility' for 2008. It would go into the activities of transnational corporations, which affect human rights including a term concerning the obligation to respect and protect the legitimate activities of human rights defenders. Forum Councillors also approved the proposal for a review of the role and functions of the ACJ and welcomed the offer of the National Human Rights Commission of India to host a meeting for this purpose in February 2008 in New Delhi.
In his address on the agenda point on "NHRIs and the Human Rights Council", Justice Shri S. Rajendra Babu, Chairperson NHRC India, pointed out that the roles of NHRIs are now clearly spelt-in local complaint remedy procedure; in Universal Periodic Review Mechanism; On Special Procedures; On nominating experts to the Human Rights Council Advisory Committee; On consultation with observers of the Human Rights Council during its Special Sessions and Participation in the UNHRC based on arrangements and practices agreed upon by the Commission on Human Rights.
In order to ensure participation of NHRIs in the UNHRC, he proposed that--- a mechanism may be developed so that all 'A' accredited NHRIs get a chance to represent on rotation basis; base papers may be prepared on issues of common interest like Treaty Bodies, Rights of the Disabled, Right to Health, Right to Education etc. and circulated amongst the members for their comments. The comments, then can be compiled and the opinion of the NHRIs can be crystallized for projecting it in the UNHRC; have regional conferences of NHRIs to identify indicators for Universal Periodic Review.
The proposals from Jordan, Afghanistan, India and Malaysia to host 13th APF meeting were discussed. New Zealand Human Rights Commission proposed that it should be hosted by an institution, which did not have an opportunity to host it so far. Based on this criterion majority of NHRIs present supported Malaysia's bid to host the next APF meeting.
Several non-governmental organizations (NGOs) presented their reports. People's Watch, India commended NHRC India for holding consultations with NGOs prior to the annual meeting and recommended that this practice be implemented by all APF member institutions for future annual meetings.
The Forum Councillors and NGOs requested that the forum further considered-Practical mechanisms to enhance NHRIs protection of human rights defenders; the role of NHRIs and their coordination with States and NGOs in the UN Universal Periodic Review mechanism; the role of NHRIs and the Declaration of the Rights of Indigenous Peoples; the role of NHRIs in the implementation of the Convention Against Torture and its Optional Protocol, particularly given the requirement to establish a national preventative mechanism in compliance with the Paris Principles and a mechanism to review the implementation of the recommendations of the ACJ.
On the 3rd day, the APF Conference began in which registered observers took part along with APF Members. The address of Ms. Louise Arbour, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights was read out. It was followed by presentation of reports from APF Members. Justice Y. Bhaskar Rao, Member, NHRC India presented a report on the Commission's activities. The Chairperson Justice Shri S. Rajendra Babu Chaired the session on Regional Co-operation between NHRIs, in the afternoon.
On the 4th day, the role of NHRIs in promoting and protecting the rights of people with disabilities were discussed. Shri Y. S. R. Murthy, Director, Research, NHRC India made a presentation on the initiatives taken by the Commission in this regard. Forum Councillors resolved to establish disability Focal Point in each institution to liaise and co-ordinate regionally.
A key theme of the 12th APF was co-operation and collaboration for the protection and promotion of human rights. On the first day of the meeting i.e. September 24, 2007 a meeting of the Advisory Council of Jurists (ACJ) was held. It took up the issue of human rights dimensions of the Right to Environment.
As Shri Fali Nariman, Member of ACJ from India could not attend the meeting, NHRC Chairperson, Justice Shri S. Rajendra Babu attended the meeting. A separate meeting of Senior Executive Officers (SEO) on the same day discussed substantive, procedural and other mechanisms for improving the co-ordination for greater effectiveness of SEO network. The Secretary General, NHRC Shri R. K. Bhargava made a presentation on human rights education at this meeting. The participants appreciated the far-reaching initiatives taken by NHRC India.
On the 2nd day, a meeting of the APF Forum Councillors was held. Mr. John von Doussa QC, President of the Australian Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission, was elected as the Chairperson of the Forum. The meeting approved the draft Rules of Procedure for (i) meetings of Forum Councillors; (ii) the Forum's Annual General Meeting and (iii) the Forum's Annual Conference, incorporating amendments that increased the proposed timeframes for submission of documents for Forum Councillors' meetings.
The Forum Councillors approved the application for Associate Membership from the Human Rights Commission of the Maldives. The meeting also decided to accept Jordan National Centre for Human Rights and the Provedoria for Human Rights and Justice of Timor-Leste, as Full Members of the Forum. Following this APF now comprises 14 full member institutions and 3 associate member institutions.
The Forum Councillors approved a proposal from the Australian Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission to make a reference to the ACJ on the theme of 'Human Rights, Corporate Accountability and Government Responsibility' for 2008. It would go into the activities of transnational corporations, which affect human rights including a term concerning the obligation to respect and protect the legitimate activities of human rights defenders. Forum Councillors also approved the proposal for a review of the role and functions of the ACJ and welcomed the offer of the National Human Rights Commission of India to host a meeting for this purpose in February 2008 in New Delhi.
In his address on the agenda point on "NHRIs and the Human Rights Council", Justice Shri S. Rajendra Babu, Chairperson NHRC India, pointed out that the roles of NHRIs are now clearly spelt-in local complaint remedy procedure; in Universal Periodic Review Mechanism; On Special Procedures; On nominating experts to the Human Rights Council Advisory Committee; On consultation with observers of the Human Rights Council during its Special Sessions and Participation in the UNHRC based on arrangements and practices agreed upon by the Commission on Human Rights.
In order to ensure participation of NHRIs in the UNHRC, he proposed that--- a mechanism may be developed so that all 'A' accredited NHRIs get a chance to represent on rotation basis; base papers may be prepared on issues of common interest like Treaty Bodies, Rights of the Disabled, Right to Health, Right to Education etc. and circulated amongst the members for their comments. The comments, then can be compiled and the opinion of the NHRIs can be crystallized for projecting it in the UNHRC; have regional conferences of NHRIs to identify indicators for Universal Periodic Review.
The proposals from Jordan, Afghanistan, India and Malaysia to host 13th APF meeting were discussed. New Zealand Human Rights Commission proposed that it should be hosted by an institution, which did not have an opportunity to host it so far. Based on this criterion majority of NHRIs present supported Malaysia's bid to host the next APF meeting.
Several non-governmental organizations (NGOs) presented their reports. People's Watch, India commended NHRC India for holding consultations with NGOs prior to the annual meeting and recommended that this practice be implemented by all APF member institutions for future annual meetings.
The Forum Councillors and NGOs requested that the forum further considered-Practical mechanisms to enhance NHRIs protection of human rights defenders; the role of NHRIs and their coordination with States and NGOs in the UN Universal Periodic Review mechanism; the role of NHRIs and the Declaration of the Rights of Indigenous Peoples; the role of NHRIs in the implementation of the Convention Against Torture and its Optional Protocol, particularly given the requirement to establish a national preventative mechanism in compliance with the Paris Principles and a mechanism to review the implementation of the recommendations of the ACJ.
On the 3rd day, the APF Conference began in which registered observers took part along with APF Members. The address of Ms. Louise Arbour, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights was read out. It was followed by presentation of reports from APF Members. Justice Y. Bhaskar Rao, Member, NHRC India presented a report on the Commission's activities. The Chairperson Justice Shri S. Rajendra Babu Chaired the session on Regional Co-operation between NHRIs, in the afternoon.
On the 4th day, the role of NHRIs in promoting and protecting the rights of people with disabilities were discussed. Shri Y. S. R. Murthy, Director, Research, NHRC India made a presentation on the initiatives taken by the Commission in this regard. Forum Councillors resolved to establish disability Focal Point in each institution to liaise and co-ordinate regionally.