The National Human Rights Commission deputed Shri A. K. Parashar, Joint Registrar (Law) and Dr. Savita Bhakhry, Joint Director (Research) to attend the 'Capacity Building Programme for Commonwealth Forum of NHRIs on Early and Forced Marriage and Sexual Violence in Conflict' at Kigali, Rwanda from the 4th to 7th May 2015.
The programme was organized under the joint auspices of the Human Rights Unit of the Commonwealth Secretariat, SUHAKAM as the Chair of the Commonwealth Forum of National Human Rights Institutions (CFNHRI) and the National Commission for Human Rights, Rwanda. Minister of Justice, Republic of Rwanda inaugurated it.
Shri A. K. Parashar and Dr. Savita Bhakhry explained in detail the steps taken by the NHRC, India to prevent and eliminate the problem of 'Early Forced Marriage (EFM).' It facilitated the Government of India in replacing the Child Marriage Restraint Act, 1929 with the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006 in line with the Constitution of India, CEDAW and CRC. It also took up the issue during various discussions on the subjects of human rights education, reproductive health, violence, labour and poverty.
Shri Parashar informed that the complaints relating to EFM are given a separate 'incident code' in the Complaints Management System of the Commission. There is a dedicated Rapid Action Cell in the Investigation Division of NHRC, India. Prompt intervention has helped in minimizing child and forced marriages in India.
The final outcome of the programme was the Commonwealth Kigali Declaration containing a number of key commitments, including the monitoring of the enforcement of legislation; improving data collection and promoting compulsory education for girls. The Declaration sets out a comprehensive framework for NHRIs to take forward and strengthen and calibrate their efforts to prevent and eliminate EFM in their respective countries. Further, it adopts a mandate to address EFM issues by NHRIs and its reporting at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in 2015.