NHRC represented in the 5th International Workshop on National Institutions for Promotion and Protection of Human Rights
The Chairperson, Mr. Justice J. S. Verma, Member Shri Virendra Dayal and Secretary General Shri N. Gopalaswami participated in the 5th International Workshop on National Institutions for Promotion and Protection of Human Rights held in Rabat, Morocco from 13 – 15 April 2000. It was held in cooperation with the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights.
Speaking at the opening session of the Workshop, Chairperson Justice Verma said that in the existing global village of social disparities between rich and poor, urban and rural areas, ethnic and racial groups, National Institutions have to work for the achievement of all human rights for all, but that is possible only if the promotion of peace and development is made the corner stone of all activities undertaken by these Institutions. Education is the most effective means of achieving this end. Right to development, he said, is an inalienable right and an integral part of fundamental human rights. Without full development of the individual, there can be no real dignity as human rights are synonymous with full dignity. Human resource development is the real purpose and objective of `All Human rights for All’. This must be the agenda of the new millenium.
Speaking of the need for independence of National Institutions, Justice Verma said "National Institutions for the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights are uniquely placed to bring together all elements of civil society in the great endeavour to assure All Human Rights for All, to assure a life with dignity for all. To be worthy of their task, however, they must themselves be marked by integrity. Independence must characterize their acts and judgement. Only then will they be effective, and perceived to be effective".
Addressing the gathering on the final day of the Workshop, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Ms. Mary Robinson, appreciated the fact that the Workshop had brought together the largest number of national human rights institutions yet assembled under UN auspices.
Emphasizing that the Principles relating to the Status of National Institutions (the "Paris Principles") needed to be emphasised more than ever before, she said that the necessity for National Institutions to be genuinely independent is inextricably linked with credibility – and therefore with effectiveness in serving those who most need their advocacy and their protection. "Although I would hope that National Institutions would always enjoy the support of their respective governments, your responsibility to independently monitor effective protection of human rights sometimes requires work at some distance from the process of government".
Urging National Institutions to be more accessible to the most vulnerable and disadvantaged sections of society, she said, "It is in your accessibility to these groups that I believe lies one of the most fundamental contributions of National Institutions".
The workshop ended with the adoption of the "Rabat Declaration". Among its major recommendations, the Declaration urged States, which have not yet set up independent human rights institutions, to do so in conformity with the `Paris Principles’, in order to strengthen the protection of human rights and consolidate the rule of law. It highlighted the important role that National Institutions must play in the fight against all forms of discrimination, and in particular against racism. Given the re-emergence and extension, noted in numerous countries, of various forms of racial discrimination, especially against immigrant workers and their families, the activities of National Institutions in the countries concerned are of prime importance to fight against this discrimination. In this regard, the Declaration requested all States to ratify the International Convention for the Protection of the Rights of all Migrant Workers and Members of their Families (adopted by the United Nations General Assembly on 18 December 1990).
The declaration called upon National Institutions to continue their activities to promote and protect women’s and children’s rights, in accordance with existing international treaties and conventions, the ratification of which by all states should have the highest priority, and also in accordance with the values of dignity, justice and equity.
It also asked National Institutions to remain vigilant to continue the fight against the abuse of the rights of women, children and persons with disabilities, who are very often among the most vulnerable groups in society. National Institutions should assist political and legislative bodies in the development of appropriate laws and practices. Furthermore, the fight against poverty and the effective enjoyment of economic, social and cultural rights by all persons constitute priorities for action by National Institutions.
The Declaration further asked all States to ratify all treaties relating to human rights and to ensure that the Statute of the International Criminal Court, adopted in Rome in July 1998, comes into force rapidly.
A separate meeting of the International Co-ordinating Committee (ICC) of the National Institutions was held at Rabat with the National Human Rights Commission of India as the Chair of ICC. Justice Verma called upon the National Institutions to consolidate their efforts to find solutions to the various issues resulting in human rights.
Delivering the Progress Report on behalf of the Chair of ICC, Shri Virendra Dayal, Member, NHRC said that the mandate of the ICC -- which derives from successive International Workshops of National Institutions and from the UN Commission on Human Rights -- and the efforts of the ICC have been noted with appreciation by the General Assembly of the United Nations.
Shri Dayal observed that, the period during which the National Human Rights Commission of India had served as the Chair of the ICC, the number of National Institutions had grown in all regions and their value had increasingly been recognised both within those regions and internationally. Their growing status had found expression in the arrangements made for their participation in the UN Commission and other UN events. The relationships and technical cooperation arrangements between National Institutions had also been strengthened with each other, with the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, NGO, treaty bodies and others. "Increasingly, National Institutions are helping to democratize, decentralize and depoliticize the global work for human rights and to give meaning to universal values and concepts at the grassroots level". He emphasized, however, that "National Institutions must themselves function, and be perceived to function, with the highest standard of integrity and independence. It is to hold National Institutions to such a standard that we must all strive, if we are to fulfil the expectations reposed in us by the international community and, even more so, by the peoples of our respective countries".
Speaking at the opening session of the Workshop, Chairperson Justice Verma said that in the existing global village of social disparities between rich and poor, urban and rural areas, ethnic and racial groups, National Institutions have to work for the achievement of all human rights for all, but that is possible only if the promotion of peace and development is made the corner stone of all activities undertaken by these Institutions. Education is the most effective means of achieving this end. Right to development, he said, is an inalienable right and an integral part of fundamental human rights. Without full development of the individual, there can be no real dignity as human rights are synonymous with full dignity. Human resource development is the real purpose and objective of `All Human rights for All’. This must be the agenda of the new millenium.
Speaking of the need for independence of National Institutions, Justice Verma said "National Institutions for the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights are uniquely placed to bring together all elements of civil society in the great endeavour to assure All Human Rights for All, to assure a life with dignity for all. To be worthy of their task, however, they must themselves be marked by integrity. Independence must characterize their acts and judgement. Only then will they be effective, and perceived to be effective".
Addressing the gathering on the final day of the Workshop, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Ms. Mary Robinson, appreciated the fact that the Workshop had brought together the largest number of national human rights institutions yet assembled under UN auspices.
Emphasizing that the Principles relating to the Status of National Institutions (the "Paris Principles") needed to be emphasised more than ever before, she said that the necessity for National Institutions to be genuinely independent is inextricably linked with credibility – and therefore with effectiveness in serving those who most need their advocacy and their protection. "Although I would hope that National Institutions would always enjoy the support of their respective governments, your responsibility to independently monitor effective protection of human rights sometimes requires work at some distance from the process of government".
Urging National Institutions to be more accessible to the most vulnerable and disadvantaged sections of society, she said, "It is in your accessibility to these groups that I believe lies one of the most fundamental contributions of National Institutions".
The workshop ended with the adoption of the "Rabat Declaration". Among its major recommendations, the Declaration urged States, which have not yet set up independent human rights institutions, to do so in conformity with the `Paris Principles’, in order to strengthen the protection of human rights and consolidate the rule of law. It highlighted the important role that National Institutions must play in the fight against all forms of discrimination, and in particular against racism. Given the re-emergence and extension, noted in numerous countries, of various forms of racial discrimination, especially against immigrant workers and their families, the activities of National Institutions in the countries concerned are of prime importance to fight against this discrimination. In this regard, the Declaration requested all States to ratify the International Convention for the Protection of the Rights of all Migrant Workers and Members of their Families (adopted by the United Nations General Assembly on 18 December 1990).
The declaration called upon National Institutions to continue their activities to promote and protect women’s and children’s rights, in accordance with existing international treaties and conventions, the ratification of which by all states should have the highest priority, and also in accordance with the values of dignity, justice and equity.
It also asked National Institutions to remain vigilant to continue the fight against the abuse of the rights of women, children and persons with disabilities, who are very often among the most vulnerable groups in society. National Institutions should assist political and legislative bodies in the development of appropriate laws and practices. Furthermore, the fight against poverty and the effective enjoyment of economic, social and cultural rights by all persons constitute priorities for action by National Institutions.
The Declaration further asked all States to ratify all treaties relating to human rights and to ensure that the Statute of the International Criminal Court, adopted in Rome in July 1998, comes into force rapidly.
A separate meeting of the International Co-ordinating Committee (ICC) of the National Institutions was held at Rabat with the National Human Rights Commission of India as the Chair of ICC. Justice Verma called upon the National Institutions to consolidate their efforts to find solutions to the various issues resulting in human rights.
Delivering the Progress Report on behalf of the Chair of ICC, Shri Virendra Dayal, Member, NHRC said that the mandate of the ICC -- which derives from successive International Workshops of National Institutions and from the UN Commission on Human Rights -- and the efforts of the ICC have been noted with appreciation by the General Assembly of the United Nations.
Shri Dayal observed that, the period during which the National Human Rights Commission of India had served as the Chair of the ICC, the number of National Institutions had grown in all regions and their value had increasingly been recognised both within those regions and internationally. Their growing status had found expression in the arrangements made for their participation in the UN Commission and other UN events. The relationships and technical cooperation arrangements between National Institutions had also been strengthened with each other, with the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, NGO, treaty bodies and others. "Increasingly, National Institutions are helping to democratize, decentralize and depoliticize the global work for human rights and to give meaning to universal values and concepts at the grassroots level". He emphasized, however, that "National Institutions must themselves function, and be perceived to function, with the highest standard of integrity and independence. It is to hold National Institutions to such a standard that we must all strive, if we are to fulfil the expectations reposed in us by the international community and, even more so, by the peoples of our respective countries".