Regional seminar on Human Rights in Dhaka
Mr. Justice K.G. Balakrishnan,
Chairperson, National Human Rights Commission, India attended the regional seminar on Human Rights; Experiences and Challenges in Dhaka, Bangladesh on the 13th -14th November, 2010. The seminar was organized by the National Human Rights Commission, Bangladesh with support from the United Nations Development Programme. Representatives of the National Human Rights Institutions from Indonesia, Malaysia, Maldives, Nepal, Philippines, and New Zealand also participated in the discussions during the seminar.
The seminar adopted the following Declaration:
" Reaffirming the inherent dignity, equal and inalienable rights of all human beings, the need for universal and effective recognition of human rights and fundamental freedoms, and to promote social progress and better standards of living, as expressed in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights;
" Recognizing the significant role played by non-state actors such as individuals, non-governmental organizations, the media and corporations play in defending human rights - as a voice for the voiceless and as watchdogs;
" Emphasizing the importance of independent, transparent, accountable and effective national human rights institutions with broad mandates to promote and protect all human rights, in accordance with the Principles relating to the status of national institutions under UN General Assembly Resolution 48/134 20 December 1993 (Paris Principles);
" Further emphasizing the importance, in accordance with the Paris Principles, of every NHRI having adequate funding to enable it to have its own staff and premises, in order to be independent and not be subject to financial control or interference by government which might impair that independence;
" Welcoming the valuable discussions of the Seminar's six Working Groups which addressed the following issues:
o The role of non-state actors in promoting and defending human rights and experiences in the region;
o The responsibilities of the state to promote and defend human rights and experiences in the region;
o Human rights and women in the Asia Pacific region;
o Human rights and indigenous people, minorities and migrant workers in the Asia Pacific region;
o Rights of the child: child labour and human trafficking;
o The challenges ahead for human rights in the Asia Pacific region.
Chairperson, National Human Rights Commission, India attended the regional seminar on Human Rights; Experiences and Challenges in Dhaka, Bangladesh on the 13th -14th November, 2010. The seminar was organized by the National Human Rights Commission, Bangladesh with support from the United Nations Development Programme. Representatives of the National Human Rights Institutions from Indonesia, Malaysia, Maldives, Nepal, Philippines, and New Zealand also participated in the discussions during the seminar.
The seminar adopted the following Declaration:
" Reaffirming the inherent dignity, equal and inalienable rights of all human beings, the need for universal and effective recognition of human rights and fundamental freedoms, and to promote social progress and better standards of living, as expressed in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights;
" Recognizing the significant role played by non-state actors such as individuals, non-governmental organizations, the media and corporations play in defending human rights - as a voice for the voiceless and as watchdogs;
" Emphasizing the importance of independent, transparent, accountable and effective national human rights institutions with broad mandates to promote and protect all human rights, in accordance with the Principles relating to the status of national institutions under UN General Assembly Resolution 48/134 20 December 1993 (Paris Principles);
" Further emphasizing the importance, in accordance with the Paris Principles, of every NHRI having adequate funding to enable it to have its own staff and premises, in order to be independent and not be subject to financial control or interference by government which might impair that independence;
" Welcoming the valuable discussions of the Seminar's six Working Groups which addressed the following issues:
o The role of non-state actors in promoting and defending human rights and experiences in the region;
o The responsibilities of the state to promote and defend human rights and experiences in the region;
o Human rights and women in the Asia Pacific region;
o Human rights and indigenous people, minorities and migrant workers in the Asia Pacific region;
o Rights of the child: child labour and human trafficking;
o The challenges ahead for human rights in the Asia Pacific region.