NHRC India nominated to represent Asia Pacific Region in the ICC of National Human Rights Institutions
The National Human Rights Commission India, has been nominated to represent the Asia Pacific Region in the International Coordinating Committee (ICC) of National Human Rights Institutions. The nomination came at the 11th annual meeting of Asia Pacific Forum (APF) of National Human Rights Institutions held in Suva, Fiji recently. NHRC India, is one of the founding members of the Asia Pacific Forum of National Institutions, which presently represents 17 National Institutions from the Asia Pacific Region. The ICC is a representative body of National Human Rights Institutions established for the purpose of creating and strengthening National Human Rights Institutions which are in conformity with the Paris Principles.
NHRC was represented at the APF meeting in Suva, by Dr. Justice Shivaraj V.Patil, Member NHRC and Smt. Aruna Sharma, Joint Secretary NHRC. The issues discussed in the Closed session in which NHRC, India intervened included APF Strategic Plan for the year 2007-09. The objective of the plan is to assist in the establishment and strengthening of NHRIs in the region in compliance with the Paris Principles; Respond to the needs of its member institutions through the delivery of practical support projects; Promote regional cooperation and coordination; To be representative of the region in the organization, participation and implementation of its activities; To strengthen the APF Secretariat's capacity to meet the needs of its growing membership. It was decided that the APF will undertake future operations in relation to the seven categories viz., (i) Annual Meetings of the APF, (II) General Advisory Services (iii) Advisory Council of Juries, (iv) Information and Promotion (v) International Law Development, (vi) Capacity Building Projects and (vii) Strategic Management. It is the intention of the draft plan that these services will increasingly be delivered over the three year period on a sub-regional basis. The draft plan proposes the sub-regions as (i) West Asia (ii) South Asia (iii) South East Asia (iv) North Asia and (v) the Pacific.
APF/ICC working group on Human Rights Council. The report of the APF/ICC working group on the Human Rights Council was presented by the NHRC India. The Forum Councillors, expressed their appreciation for the efforts of the members of the working group and its spokesperson Justice A.S.Anand, Chairperson, NHRC, India and expressed their strong support for the advocacy on behalf of all members of the forum.
Advisory Council of Jurists (ACJ) The Forum Councillors decided to make a reference to the ACJ on exploring the human rights dimension to the right to environment and requested that the secretariat develop draft terms of reference of the consideration and approval of Forum Councillors.
It was decided to hold the Twelfth Annual Meeting of the APF at Sydney, Australia. The Forum Councillors unanimously elected Fiji Human Rights Commission (as the current host institution of the annual meeting) to the position of Chairperson of the Forum. The National Human rights Commission of Mongolia (as the host institution for the next meeting) were also elected to the two positions of Deputy Chairpersons.
Justice Patil who presented the report from forum members at the four day meeting which began on 31st July gave an indepth insight into the working of the Indian Commission. He highlighted the work done by NHRC India, during the period from last APF meeting held at Ulaanbaatar, Mangolia in August last year.
Justice Patil referred to the efforts made by NHRC towards realization of economic, social and cultural rights. He also said that the Commission has been urging early ratification of the convention against torture and the Indian government has now drafted the 'Convention Against Torture Act 2006". He added that Government of India may ratify the convention in near future.
The member also talked about the Commission's persistent efforts in different fields including Rights of the Child, Juvenile Justice, Trafficking of Women and Children in India, Eradication of Manual Scavenging, Emergency Medical Care and Right of Food. Hon'ble Member was interviewed regarding developing an APF resource DVD/Video. The issue of Koraput, Bolangir & Kalahandi (KBK) was taken as illustration for Economic, Social and Cultural Rights ( ESCR) and Punjab Mass Cremation case for the Civil and Political Rights.
NHRC was represented at the APF meeting in Suva, by Dr. Justice Shivaraj V.Patil, Member NHRC and Smt. Aruna Sharma, Joint Secretary NHRC. The issues discussed in the Closed session in which NHRC, India intervened included APF Strategic Plan for the year 2007-09. The objective of the plan is to assist in the establishment and strengthening of NHRIs in the region in compliance with the Paris Principles; Respond to the needs of its member institutions through the delivery of practical support projects; Promote regional cooperation and coordination; To be representative of the region in the organization, participation and implementation of its activities; To strengthen the APF Secretariat's capacity to meet the needs of its growing membership. It was decided that the APF will undertake future operations in relation to the seven categories viz., (i) Annual Meetings of the APF, (II) General Advisory Services (iii) Advisory Council of Juries, (iv) Information and Promotion (v) International Law Development, (vi) Capacity Building Projects and (vii) Strategic Management. It is the intention of the draft plan that these services will increasingly be delivered over the three year period on a sub-regional basis. The draft plan proposes the sub-regions as (i) West Asia (ii) South Asia (iii) South East Asia (iv) North Asia and (v) the Pacific.
APF/ICC working group on Human Rights Council. The report of the APF/ICC working group on the Human Rights Council was presented by the NHRC India. The Forum Councillors, expressed their appreciation for the efforts of the members of the working group and its spokesperson Justice A.S.Anand, Chairperson, NHRC, India and expressed their strong support for the advocacy on behalf of all members of the forum.
Advisory Council of Jurists (ACJ) The Forum Councillors decided to make a reference to the ACJ on exploring the human rights dimension to the right to environment and requested that the secretariat develop draft terms of reference of the consideration and approval of Forum Councillors.
It was decided to hold the Twelfth Annual Meeting of the APF at Sydney, Australia. The Forum Councillors unanimously elected Fiji Human Rights Commission (as the current host institution of the annual meeting) to the position of Chairperson of the Forum. The National Human rights Commission of Mongolia (as the host institution for the next meeting) were also elected to the two positions of Deputy Chairpersons.
Justice Patil who presented the report from forum members at the four day meeting which began on 31st July gave an indepth insight into the working of the Indian Commission. He highlighted the work done by NHRC India, during the period from last APF meeting held at Ulaanbaatar, Mangolia in August last year.
Justice Patil referred to the efforts made by NHRC towards realization of economic, social and cultural rights. He also said that the Commission has been urging early ratification of the convention against torture and the Indian government has now drafted the 'Convention Against Torture Act 2006". He added that Government of India may ratify the convention in near future.
The member also talked about the Commission's persistent efforts in different fields including Rights of the Child, Juvenile Justice, Trafficking of Women and Children in India, Eradication of Manual Scavenging, Emergency Medical Care and Right of Food. Hon'ble Member was interviewed regarding developing an APF resource DVD/Video. The issue of Koraput, Bolangir & Kalahandi (KBK) was taken as illustration for Economic, Social and Cultural Rights ( ESCR) and Punjab Mass Cremation case for the Civil and Political Rights.